The regulatory role of NLRX1 in innate immunity and human disease

•NLRX1 regulates the innate immune response.•NLRX1 is currently the only NLR known to be located in mitochondria, and its provides a new insight into the interaction between mitochondrial function and innate immunity.•The regulatory mechanism of NLRX1 varies according to diverse cell types or environmental differences.•NLRX1 is involved in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) initially appeared in the public view as a cytoplasmic pathogen recognition receptor (PRR) that plays an important role in innate immunity. NLRX1 is currently the only NLR known to be located in mitochondria through a mechanism presumed to be associated with its special N-terminal domain, and it establishes a novel connection between mitochondrial function and disease pathophysiology. NLRX1 functions as a negative regulator of the body's inflammatory response. Concurrently, the role of NLRX1 in regulating mitochondrial autophagy and metabolism has also been confirmed. Based on accumulating evidence, NLRX1 is involved in the occurrence and development of various diseases, including autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases. Research on the roles of NLRX1 in cancer, nervous system diseases and metabolic diseases has also undergone qualitative advances. However, according to current research, the function of NLRX1 is controversial, and the opposite effect has even been observed. This new study suggests that this phenomenon may be related to the specific localization of NLRX1 in cells. To date, the biological function of NLRX1 has not been comprehensively explored, but studies have introduced some new directions. For example, some recent studies have shown that NLRX1 affects pyroptosis. In this review, we summarize existing research results on NLRX1, facilitating explorations of the potential mechanism of NLRX1 and the development of new treatment strategies.