title: NALP3: a key player in caspase-1 activation.
abstract: The NLR (NACHT-LRR) family of proteins have been implicated in the regulation of immune responses and cell death pathways. Some NLR family members can form multiprotein complexes, called inflammasomes, involved in the activation of pro-inflammatory caspases. Mutations in the NALP3/CIAS1/cryopyrin gene, a member of the NLR family, are linked to three auto-inflammatory disorders: Muckle-Wells syndrome, familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome and neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease. NALP3 along with the adaptor molecule ASC activates caspase-1 in response to a wide variety of stimuli. Here we review recent findings on the biology of NALP3 suggesting that it has functions beyond that of pathogen recognition.
authors.affiliation: Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Fayyaz S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Sutterwala
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Dario S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Flavell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human; C492716:Nlrp3 protein, mouse; D020170:Caspase 1