Inflammasomes and viruses: cellular defence versus viral offence.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines are important mediators in immune responses against invading pathogens, including viruses. Precursors of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 are processed by caspase-1. Caspase-1 is activated through autocleavage, but how this is regulated remained elusive for a long time. In 2002, an intracellular multimeric complex was discovered that facilitated caspase-1 cleavage and was termed 'inflammasome'. To date, different inflammasomes have been described, which recognize a variety of ligands and pathogens. In this review, we discuss the role of inflammasomes in sensing viral infection as well as the evasion strategies that viruses developed to circumvent inflammasome-dependent effects.
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Anna M
AM
Gram
Department of General Paediatrics, Paediatric Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Joost
J
Frenkel
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Maaike E
ME
Ressing
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D058847:Inflammasomes