Prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle-like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting NEK7-NLRP3 interaction and inflammasome activation

Abstract Edible plant derived extracellular vesicle-like particles (EVLPs) have garnered attention as potential therapeutic agents for chronic inflammatory diseases. Prunus mume (PM) is a functional fruit known for its gastrointestinal benefits, yet the detail material basis and potential mechanism...

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Main Authors: Qi Lv, Hongqiong Yang, Ying Xie, Xinjie Huang, Zhiqi Yan, Yingshan Lv, Yifan Cui, Lihong Hu, Hongzhi Qiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Nanobiotechnology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03567-9
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author Qi Lv
Hongqiong Yang
Ying Xie
Xinjie Huang
Zhiqi Yan
Yingshan Lv
Yifan Cui
Lihong Hu
Hongzhi Qiao
author_facet Qi Lv
Hongqiong Yang
Ying Xie
Xinjie Huang
Zhiqi Yan
Yingshan Lv
Yifan Cui
Lihong Hu
Hongzhi Qiao
author_sort Qi Lv
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Edible plant derived extracellular vesicle-like particles (EVLPs) have garnered attention as potential therapeutic agents for chronic inflammatory diseases. Prunus mume (PM) is a functional fruit known for its gastrointestinal benefits, yet the detail material basis and potential mechanism remain unclear. Here, we reported that oral administration of prunus mume derived EVLPs (PM-EVLPs) substantially mitigated experimental colitis in mice. The in vivo bio-distribution analysis revealed that PM-EVLPs specifically targeted inflamed colon of colitis mice. Further in vitro studies demonstrated that PM-EVLPs were predominantly internalized by macrophages. The combined treatment with clodronate liposomes confirmed that macrophage was the target cell for PM-EVLPs-mediated anti-colitis activity. Mechanistically, PM-EVLPs selectively inhibited caspase-1 auto-cleavage and IL-1β secretion caused by NLRP3 inflammasome activation, while exerting minimal impact on AIM2, NLRP1 or NLRC4 inflammasome activation. Excluding the effects on mitochondrial ROS generation, K+ efflux or Ca2+ influx, PM-EVLPs disrupted the NEK7-NLRP3 interaction, thereby preventing NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. Notably, the inhibitory activity was attributed to RNAs rather than lipids or proteins within PM-EVLPs. Deep RNA sequencing, coupled with the application of miRNA mimics/inhibitors identified miR159 as the material basis for PM-EVLPs’ inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and anti-colitis efficacy. Collectively, these findings suggest that PM-EVLPs represent a promising nanomedicine with potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for colitis and deserves further investigation and development.
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spelling doaj-art-cf61e972274442a4bea29e20772f992d2025-08-20T03:42:57ZengBMCJournal of Nanobiotechnology1477-31552025-07-0123111910.1186/s12951-025-03567-9Prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle-like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting NEK7-NLRP3 interaction and inflammasome activationQi Lv0Hongqiong Yang1Ying Xie2Xinjie Huang3Zhiqi Yan4Yingshan Lv5Yifan Cui6Lihong Hu7Hongzhi Qiao8Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineJiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineJiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineJiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineJiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineJiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineJiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineJiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineJiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Edible plant derived extracellular vesicle-like particles (EVLPs) have garnered attention as potential therapeutic agents for chronic inflammatory diseases. Prunus mume (PM) is a functional fruit known for its gastrointestinal benefits, yet the detail material basis and potential mechanism remain unclear. Here, we reported that oral administration of prunus mume derived EVLPs (PM-EVLPs) substantially mitigated experimental colitis in mice. The in vivo bio-distribution analysis revealed that PM-EVLPs specifically targeted inflamed colon of colitis mice. Further in vitro studies demonstrated that PM-EVLPs were predominantly internalized by macrophages. The combined treatment with clodronate liposomes confirmed that macrophage was the target cell for PM-EVLPs-mediated anti-colitis activity. Mechanistically, PM-EVLPs selectively inhibited caspase-1 auto-cleavage and IL-1β secretion caused by NLRP3 inflammasome activation, while exerting minimal impact on AIM2, NLRP1 or NLRC4 inflammasome activation. Excluding the effects on mitochondrial ROS generation, K+ efflux or Ca2+ influx, PM-EVLPs disrupted the NEK7-NLRP3 interaction, thereby preventing NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. Notably, the inhibitory activity was attributed to RNAs rather than lipids or proteins within PM-EVLPs. Deep RNA sequencing, coupled with the application of miRNA mimics/inhibitors identified miR159 as the material basis for PM-EVLPs’ inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and anti-colitis efficacy. Collectively, these findings suggest that PM-EVLPs represent a promising nanomedicine with potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for colitis and deserves further investigation and development.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03567-9PM-EVLPsUlcerative colitisNLRP3 inflammasomeNEK7-NLRP3 interactionmiR159
spellingShingle Qi Lv
Hongqiong Yang
Ying Xie
Xinjie Huang
Zhiqi Yan
Yingshan Lv
Yifan Cui
Lihong Hu
Hongzhi Qiao
Prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle-like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting NEK7-NLRP3 interaction and inflammasome activation
Journal of Nanobiotechnology
PM-EVLPs
Ulcerative colitis
NLRP3 inflammasome
NEK7-NLRP3 interaction
miR159
title Prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle-like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting NEK7-NLRP3 interaction and inflammasome activation
title_full Prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle-like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting NEK7-NLRP3 interaction and inflammasome activation
title_fullStr Prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle-like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting NEK7-NLRP3 interaction and inflammasome activation
title_full_unstemmed Prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle-like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting NEK7-NLRP3 interaction and inflammasome activation
title_short Prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle-like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting NEK7-NLRP3 interaction and inflammasome activation
title_sort prunus mume derived extracellular vesicle like particles alleviate experimental colitis via disrupting nek7 nlrp3 interaction and inflammasome activation
topic PM-EVLPs
Ulcerative colitis
NLRP3 inflammasome
NEK7-NLRP3 interaction
miR159
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03567-9
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