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Updated: Sep 16, 2025

Activation and Measurement of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity Using IL-1β in Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells
Published on: May 22, 2014
A cereblon-based glue degrader of NEK7 regulates NLRP3 inflammasome in a context-dependent manner
Aude Sylvain1, Natacha Stoehr1, Fupeng Ma2
1Novartis Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Aberrant NLRP3 (NACHT-, leucine-rich repeat [LRR]- and pyrin domain [PYD]- containing protein 3) inflammasome activation is linked to many inflammatory diseases, driving the search for therapeutics inhibiting this pathway. NEK7 is proposed to mediate NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation by bridging adjacent NLRP3 subunits. Hence, reduction of NEK7 protein may block NLRP3 activation. We identified NK7-902, a potent and selective cereblon (CRBN) glue degrader of NEK7. NK7-902 degraded NEK7 in human immune cells and whole blood. However, full NEK7 degradation completely blocked NLRP3-dependent interleukin-1β (IL-1β) release in vitro only in certain donors and experimental conditions. Unlike most CRBN glue degraders, NK7-902 effectively degraded NEK7 in murine cells and inhibited IL-1β release in mouse in vivo. By contrast, oral administration of NK7-902 in cynomolgus monkey caused long-lasting NEK7 degradation but only transiently blocked IL-1β in blood. These findings suggest NEK7 contributes to but is not absolutely required for NLRP3 activation in monkeys and humans.
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