Tabersonine is a selective, orally active NLRP3 inhibitor. Tabersonine directly binds to the NACHT domain of NLRP3, inhibiting its ATPase activity and oligomerization, thereby blocking ASC spot formation and caspase-1 activation, and reducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta. Tabersonine also inhibits K63-linked ubiquitination of TRAF6, blocking NF-kappaB, PI3K/Akt, and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Tabersonine can inhibit inflammatory responses, induce apoptosis of liver cancer cells through mitochondrial pathways and death receptor pathways, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential, promote cytochrome c release, and activate caspase proteins. Tabersonine is mainly used in the study of NLRP3-driven inflammatory diseases (such as acute lung injury, sepsis, peritonitis) and tumors such as liver cancer[1][2][3].
