FDA-approved drug library screen identifies antidepressants, antimicrobials, anti-COPD, and anti-CVD agents as blockers of NLRP3 inflammasome and sepsis in a sex-dependent manner.
The NLRP3 inflammasome pathway is central to host defense, but dysregulated activation of inflammasomes promotes diseases associated with metabolic syndrome (diabetes, obesity, CVD, MASLD), neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimers, Parkinsons), autoinflammatory conditions (CAPS, gout), and respiratory illnesses (asthma/COPD, COVID-19). Therapeutic modulation of NLRP3 is challenging as it requires selective blockade of detrimental inflammasome activation without broadly suppressing innate immunity. Here, we used a phenotypic screen in THP1-ASC-GFP monocytes to identify FDA-approved drugs that can block LPS-induced priming of the NLRP3 inflammasome or inhibit NLRP3 assembly without disrupting upstream priming. Various classes of drugs, such as antidepressants (Fluoxetine, Duloxetine), antihypertensives (Irbesartan, Amlodipine, Nebivolol), antidiabetics (Rosiglitazone), {beta}-adrenergic agonists (Salmeterol), antimalarials (Mefloquine), antifungals (Azoles, Ciclopirox), and antivirals (Saquinavir, Remdesivir), were identified as potent blockers of either priming or assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Secondary validation demonstrated that several compounds suppressed NF-{kappa}B activation, reduced LPS binding to immune cells, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, enhanced efferocytic capacity of macrophages, and enhanced autophagy in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic analyses further revealed drug-specific effects on lysosomal biogenesis, mitochondrial morphology, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. In murine models of acute inflammation and endotoxemia, selected compounds attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reduced systemic and local inflammatory cytokines, limited tissue injury, and improved survival following LPS-induced sepsis, with efficacy varying by sex. Further studies in primary human cells and in vivo disease models are needed to assess the repurposing and therapeutic relevance of identified drugs.