title: The inflammasome: a caspase-1-activation platform that regulates immune responses and disease pathogenesis.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eigenbrod
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Planillo
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nuñez
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D000070576:NLR Proteins; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D000070576:NLR Proteins; C435692:NLRC4 protein, human; C427903:NLRP1 protein, human; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human; D014527:Uric Acid; D020170:Caspase 1