Contents: (Small 12/2014)

MetallofullerenolsMetallofullerenols uptaken by macrophages can promote the production of infl ammatory cytokines like IL-1 by triggering two signaling pathways indepentently.As reported on page 2362 by C. Chen and co-workers, fullerenols prime macrophages to express pro-IL-1 viaTLRs/MyD88 pathway and subsequently activate NF-B.Importantly, they activate NLRP3 infl ammasome in macrophages, which is required for processing pro-IL-1 into mature IL-1.These fi ndings contibute to better understanding their underlying mechanism of antitumor chemotherapeutics and good immunoregulatory effects.