title: Inflammasomes and host defenses against bacterial infections.
abstract: The inflammasome has emerged as an important molecular protein complex which initiates proteolytic processing of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 into mature inflammatory cytokines. In addition, inflammasomes initiate pyroptotic cell death that may be independent of those cytokines. Inflammasomes are central to elicit innate immune responses against many pathogens, and are key components in the induction of host defenses following bacterial infection. Here, we review recent discoveries related to NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, NLRP6, NLRP7, NLRP12 and AIM2-mediated recognition of bacteria. Mechanisms for inflammasome activation and regulation are now suggested to involve kinases such as PKR and PKCδ, ligand binding proteins such as the NAIPs, and caspase-11 and caspase-8 in addition to caspase-1. Future research will determine how specific inflammasome components pair up in optimal responses to specific bacteria.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors: Gregory I
authors: GI
authors: Vladimer
authors: Robyn
authors: R
authors: Marty-Roix
authors: Shubhendu
authors: S
authors: Ghosh
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Weng
authors: Egil
authors: E
authors: Lien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000276:immunology*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D058847:Inflammasomes; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins