# Activation of the NALP3-CASP1-IL-1 β Inflammatory Pathway by Pesticide Exposure in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

## TL;DR

This study shows that pesticides can activate an inflammatory pathway in blood vessel cells, leading to potential vascular damage and prolonged inflammation.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates pesticide-induced activation of the NALP3-CASP1-IL-1β pathway in endothelial cells, linking it to necroptosis and inflammation.

## Key findings

- Pesticide exposure activates the NALP3-CASP1-IL-1β inflammatory pathway in HUVECs.
- Pesticides induce ROS generation and morphological changes in endothelial cells.
- Exposure may lead to necroptosis and prolonged inflammation in vascular cells.

## Abstract

Barrier function regulation, angiogenic potential, and immune response modulation are only a few of the many roles of the vascular system that nowadays represent one of the main targets for environmental pollutants, in particular, pesticides. We have used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as an in vitro model to investigate the effects of pesticides on the activation of the NALP3-CASP1-IL-1β inflammatory pathway using real time PCR (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence investigations, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and morphological alterations with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Our findings offer a comprehensive evaluation of the cellular and molecular damage induced by pesticide exposure and show strong inflammasome activation. They indicate that these chemicals may initiate necroptosis and drive prolonged inflammation in endothelial cells. This study provides crucial insights into how pesticides contribute to endothelial dysfunction, highlighting the need for further investigation into their inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects on vascular health.