Correlation of the expression of NLRP3 mNRA inflammasome and its downstream inflammatory factors in peripheral blood with cognition and activity of daily living of patients with Alzheimer's disease

Objective: To explore the correlation of the expression of nod-like roll receptor3 (NLRP3) and its downstream factors in peripheral blood with cognition and activity of daily living of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: A total of 76 AD patients were enrolled as an AD group, and 76 healthy individuals were enrolled as a control group. The two groups were compared in the levels of peripheral blood NLRP3 and cysteine-requiring aspartate protease-1 (Caspase-1) mRNA, serum interleukin-1 beta (1L-1 beta), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and scores of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), and the activities of daily living (ADL) scales. In addition, the correlation of NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1 beta, and IL-18 with scores of MMSE, MoCA, and ADL scales in the AD group was analyzed, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out on indexes of the two groups with significant differences in univariate analysis to analyze risk factors for AD. Results: The AD group showed higher levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1 beta, and IL-18, and lower score of each scale, and the levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1 beta, and IL-18 were negatively correlated with the score of each scale. In addition, the increase in the levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1,IL-1 beta, and IL-18, low education level, having a cerebrovascular disease history, having a family history of AD, social activity frequency equal to 1 time per week or less, amount of exercise lower than 30 min per day, and negative life events were risk factors for AD. Conclusion: NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream factors are strongly linked to the cognition and activity of daily living of AD patients, and they may be involved in the development and progression of AD.