The inflammasome puts obesity in the danger zone.
Obesity-induced inflammation is an important contributor to the induction of insulin resistance. Recently, the cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) has emerged as a prominent instigator of the proinflammatory response in obesity. Several studies over the last year have subsequently deciphered the molecular mechanisms responsible for IL-1β activation in adipose tissue, liver, and macrophages and demonstrated a central role of the processing enzyme caspase-1 and of the protein complex leading to its activation called the inflammasome. These data suggest that activation of the inflammasome represents a crucial step in the road from obesity to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Department of Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands.
Rinke
R
Stienstra
Cees J
CJ
Tack
Thirumala-Devi
TD
Kanneganti
Leo A B
LA
Joosten
Mihai G
MG
Netea
D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D058847:Inflammasomes; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D020170:Caspase 1