Sensing pathogens and danger signals by the inflammasome

The NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing) family of intracellular sensors is a crucial component of the innate immune system. A number of NLR family members can form multiprotein complexes, called inflammasomes, and are capable of activating the cysteine protease caspase-1 i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in immunology 2009-02, Vol.21 (1), p.10-16
Main Authors: Pedra, Joao HF, Cassel, Suzanne L, Sutterwala, Fayyaz S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - genetics
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - immunology
Allergy and Immunology
Animals
Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins - genetics
Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins - immunology
Autoimmune Diseases - genetics
Bacterial Infections - genetics
Bacterial Infections - immunology
Calcium-Binding Proteins - genetics
Calcium-Binding Proteins - immunology
CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins - genetics
CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins - immunology
Caspase 1 - genetics
Caspase 1 - immunology
Gene Expression Regulation
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Immunity, Innate
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - immunology
Interleukin-1beta - immunology
Polymorphism, Genetic
Signal Transduction
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Summary:The NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing) family of intracellular sensors is a crucial component of the innate immune system. A number of NLR family members can form multiprotein complexes, called inflammasomes, and are capable of activating the cysteine protease caspase-1 in response to a wide range of stimuli including both microbial and self-molecules. Caspase-1 activation leads to processing and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18, which play crucial roles in host defense to infectious insults. Dysregulation of the inflammasome has also been linked to a number of autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Recent advances in the inflammasome field will be discussed in this review.
ISSN:0952-7915
1879-0372
DOI:10.1016/j.coi.2009.01.006