Table 2 Agents/small molecules for dual activation of autophagy and inflammasomes

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2215)

Activation of ROS-mediated autophagy through inhibition of mTOR;

Upregulation of AIM2 expression

Anti-cancer effects

[112]

Prenylation inhibitor

Prostatic cancer cell (PC3)

Activation of autophagy through inhibition of geranylgeranyl synthesis

Cell cycle arrest and inhibition of proliferation

[114]

THP-1

Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome through ATP secretion and P2X7 activation via isoprenylation-dependent pathway

Not determined in cell survival/death

[115]

Polyphyllin VI

Non-small cell lung cancer (A549, H1299, PC-9)

Activation of ROS-induced NF-κB signaling and pyroptosis;

NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Anti-cancer effect

[116]

Non-small cell lung cancer (A549, H1299)

Activation of ROS-mediated autophagy through inhibition of mTOR;

ATG7-dependent autophagic cell death

Anti-cancer effect (reduced by autophagy inhibition)

[117]

Ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) transfer protein

HeLa, HEK-293 TPH-1

Activation of autophagy through inhibition of mTOR pathway by CPTP depletion;Enhancement of NLRP3 Inflammasome assembly in CPTP depletion state

Not determined in cell survival/death

[119]

17β-estradiol

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2)

Activation of caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis;Inhibition of AMPK and activation of the mTOR pathway

Increased pyroptosis (amplified by autophagy inhibition)

[121]

Thyroid cancer (Nthy-ori 3-1, BCPAP, BCPAP-ERα)

Activation of ROS-mediated autophagy in ERα-positive cell;

Activation of the ERK1/2 pathway; promoting survival/growth of papillary thyroid cancer cells

Cancer cell survival

[122]