Potential Therapeutic Natural Products for the Treatment of Obesity-Associated Chronic Inflammation by Targeting TLRs and Inflammasomes

Abstract

Obesity-associated chronic inflammation is a key event to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recent advances in deciphering the various immune cells and signalling networks that link the immune system and metabolic system have contributed to our understanding of the pathogenesis of obesity-associated chronic inflammation. Recent studies have suggested that pattern recognition receptors in the innate immune system recognise various kinds of endogenous ligands, and play a crucial role in initiating or promoting obesity-associated chronic inflammation. These findings have also informed new therapeutic strategies based on immunomodulation. Chinese herbal medicines have been used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus in Asian countries. With the rapid advancement of novel technologies and the increased research on natural products, many new plant-derived extracts and active compounds have been identified to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. Here we overview natural products that inhibit activation of pattern recognition receptors, particularly Toll-like receptors and inflammasomes, as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of obesity-associated chronic inflammation. We also discuss molecular mechanisms by which the natural products regulate pattern recognition receptors, with a particular focus on our findings regarding unique compounds of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.