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NLRP3

Can This Gene Influence Your Risk of Gut Inflammation? (NLRP3)

Written by Carlos Tello, PhD on August 27th, 2020

NLRP3 is the sensor component of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which causes inflammation by producing cytokines. Certain variants have been associated with an increased incidence of ulcerative colitis and celiac disease. Read below to learn more.

The NLRP3 Gene In Inflammatory Conditions

NLRP3 is the sensor component of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Once this complex has been activated in response to pathogens and other damage-associated signals, its effector protein CASP1 produces the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 [R].

When it comes to inflammatory conditions, the NLRP3 inflammasome is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, its overactivation causes widespread inflammation and autoimmune conditions. On the other hand, a reduced immune response to foreign antigens may cause chronic inflammation [R].

NLRP3 is the sensor component of a protein complex that produces inflammatory cytokines.

NLRP3 Variants & Gut Inflammation

The ‘GG’ genotype of rs10754558 is approximately 2.5 times more common among people with ulcerative colitis, while ‘CG’ is protective. Interestingly, this variant has also been associated with severe food allergies [R, R, R].

Two other minor variants, ‘C’ at rs3806265 and ‘T’ at rs4925648, were also associated with an increased incidence of Crohn’s disease in the same British study. Conversely, the minor ‘A’ variant at rs3738447 was protective [R].

In the case of the rs10733113, rs4353135, and rs4266924 polymorphisms, the major variants (‘G’, ‘T’, and ‘A’, respectively) were the ones associated with Crohn’s disease in a Canadian study [R].

Some of the variants associated with IBD increase NLRP3 expression and activity, while others reduce it [R, R, R, R, R].

Several NLRP3 variants, often increasing its activity, have been associated with a higher incidence of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Your NLRP3 Results for Gut Inflammation

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs10754558
rs3806265
rs10733113
rs4353135

SNP Summary and Table

NLRP3 rs10754558

‘C’ = Not associated with gut issues
‘G’ = Associated with ulcerative colitis

NLRP3 rs3806265

‘T’ = Not associated with gut issues
‘C’ = Associated with Crohn’s disease

NLRP3 rs10733113

‘G’ = Associated with Crohn’s disease
‘A’ = Not associated with gut issues

NLRP3 rs4353135

‘T’ = Associated with Crohn’s disease
‘G’ = Not associated with gut issues

Recommendations

Diet

Resistant Starch/Butyrate

In animal studies, butyrate protected the gut by blocking NLRP3 activation, which reduced inflammation and preserved gut barrier function [R, R].

So far, butyrate’s potential benefits have been better studied in ulcerative colitis than in Crohn’s disease. However, in one study of 13 people with Crohn’s disease, a type of IBD, butyrate supplements improved 69% of cases, with symptoms completely disappearing in 54% (seven participants) [R, R, R, R, R].

Butyrate is available as a supplement; dietary factors also affect how much butyrate is produced by your gut bacteria. The best foods to increase butyrate production are those with plenty of resistant starches—starch that you can’t digest, but that the gut flora can. Baked potatoes and green bananas are two good sources of resistant starch [R, R, R].

Diets rich in resistant starch increase butyrate production by the gut bacteria. This compound can improve IBD by reducing inflammation and preserving gut barrier function, in part through its inhibitory effects on NLRP3 activation.

Supplements

Probiotics

In animal studies, supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L. johnsonii, and Enterococcus faecium improved intestinal damage and inflammation caused by drugs and bacterial infections, in part by reducing NLRP3 expression [R, R, R, R].

People with IBD often have impaired gut microbiome, which may worsen their disease. Probiotic strains have been studied in people with Crohn’s disease, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, and Saccharomyces boulardii. Of these, the first four showed some promise for people with active Crohn’s disease, while S. boulardii and L. rhamnosus may be helpful for keeping the disease at bay in patients in remission [R].

In a meta-analysis, a blended probiotic containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains increased remission rates by 1.7x in ulcerative colitis patients. These strains were beneficial in different trials with ulcerative colitis patients [R, R, R, R].

People with IBD often have an impaired gut microbiome, which can be corrected by taking probiotics. In animal studies, different probiotic strains improved intestinal damage and inflammation, and reduced NLRP3 expression.

Curcumin

Curcumin is the active ingredient of turmeric with potent anti-inflammatory effects, which it mainly exerts by reducing NLRP3 expression and activation. In mice with colitis, it relieved the symptoms through this mechanism [R, R, R].

Multiple clinical trials have produced promising results for curcumin in IBD, and further research is currently underway [R, R, R].

Curcumin is the main active ingredient of turmeric, which shows promise in IBD therapy. It mainly exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by reducing NLRP3 activity.

Korean Red Ginseng

Ginseng’s active compound ginsenoside Rg3 suppresses NLRP3 activation. In mice with colitis, it preserved gut barrier function and relieved the symptoms through this mechanism [R, R].

The active compounds of ginseng reduced inflammation and promoted tissue regeneration in the guts of mice and rats with colitis [R, R, R].

Korean red ginseng improves colitis and preserves gut barrier function, in part by blocking NLRP3 activation.

Carlos Tello

PhD

Carlos received his PhD and MS from the Universidad de Sevilla.

Carlos spent 8 years in the laboratory investigating mineral transport in plants. He then started working as a freelancer, mainly in science writing, editing, and consulting. Carlos is passionate about learning the mechanisms behind biological processes and communicating science to both academic and lay audiences. He strongly believes that scientific literacy is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding falling for scams.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

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The NLRP3 Gene In Inflammatory Conditions NLRP3 Variants & Gut Inflammation Your NLRP3 Results for Gut Inflammation

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Can This Gene Influence Your Risk of Gut Inflammation? (NLRP3)

The NLRP3 Gene In Inflammatory Conditions

NLRP3 Variants & Gut Inflammation

Your NLRP3 Results for Gut Inflammation

SNP Table

SNP Summary and Table

Recommendations

Diet

Resistant Starch/Butyrate

Supplements

Probiotics

Curcumin

Korean Red Ginseng

Disclaimer

More gut health blogs

Content

Unlock Personalized Results And So Much More!

Essential Bundle

Essential

Bundle

Ultimate Bundle

Limited Time Offer 25% Off

Policies

About

Navigation

Health reports