4-Octyl itaconate

4-Octyl itaconate is an endogenous metabolite of itaconate that activates the anti-inflammatory transcription factor Nrf2 (also known as NFE2L2) by lipopolysaccharide in mouse and human macrophages. Itaconate alkylates cysteine residues 151, 257, 288, 273 and 297 on the protein KEAP1, enabling Nrf2 to increase the expression of downstream gene. In vivo, 4-octyl itaconate (50 mg/kg) decreases serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α, increases Nrf2 protein expression, and protects against LPS-induced lethality in wild-type, but not Nrf2 knockout, mice.