title: Inflammasomes as molecular mediators of inflammation and cancer: potential role in melanoma.
abstract: The inflammasome is a multi-protein complex that mediates immune responses to microbial, host, and environmental signals. When active, inflammasomes regulate caspase-1 activation and IL-1β secretion. There is a strong link between inflammation and cancer, and IL-1β is one of the major molecules involved in both of these disease processes. Here we review the role of inflammasomes in regulating IL-1β secretion, and the impact of this pathway on cancer pathogenesis, with a focus on melanoma. This represents an exciting new area of research, and could potentially result in new targets for melanoma therapeutics in the future.
authors: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors: Jeffrey H
authors: JH
authors: Dunn
authors: Lixia Z
authors: LZ
authors: Ellis
authors: Mayumi
authors: M
authors: Fujita
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D058847:Inflammasomes; D007375:Interleukin-1