The Inflammasome: a Caspase-1-activation Platform That Regulates Immune Responses and Disease Pathogenesis

Overview

Journal Nat Immunol

Date 2009 Feb 18

PMID 19221555

Citations 865

Authors

Luigi Franchi

Tatjana Eigenbrod

Raul Munoz-Planillo

Gabriel Nunez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that mediates the activation of caspase-1, which promotes secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-18, as well as 'pyroptosis', a form of cell death induced by bacterial pathogens. Members of the Nod-like receptor family, including NLRP1, NLRP3 and NLRC4, and the adaptor ASC are critical components of the inflammasome that link microbial and endogenous 'danger' signals to caspase-1 activation. Several diseases are associated with dysregulated activation of caspase-1 and secretion of IL-1beta. Thus, understanding inflammasome pathways may provide insight into disease pathogenesis that might identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

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