title: Regulating caspase-1 during infection: roles of NLRs, AIM2, and ASC.
abstract: Pathogens are detected by a variety of innate immune sensors in host cells leading to rapid induction of cell autonomous responses. Proinflammatory cytokine secretion and a specialized form of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis are induced during infection through activation of caspase-1. Pathogen-induced caspase-1 activation is regulated in large part by a vast array of cystosolic sensor proteins, including NLRs and AIM2, and an adaptor protein called ASC. Together, these proteins cooperate in forming caspase-1 activation platforms and, more importantly, direct caspase-1 toward cytokine secretion or cell death.
authors.affiliation: Section of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536, USA. christopher.case@yale.edu
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Case
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020170:Caspase 1