title: Inflammasomes and metabolic disease.
abstract: Innate immune response pathways and metabolic pathways are evolutionarily conserved throughout species and are fundamental to survival. As such, the regulation of whole-body and cellular metabolism is intimately integrated with immune responses. However, the introduction of new variables to this delicate evolutionarily conserved physiological interaction can lead to deleterious consequences for organisms as a result of inappropriate immune responses. In recent decades, the prevalence and incidence of metabolic diseases associated with obesity have dramatically increased worldwide. As a recently acquired human characteristic, obesity has exposed the critical role of innate immune pathways in multiple metabolic pathophysiological processes. Here, we review recent evidence that highlights inflammasomes as critical sensors of metabolic perturbations in multiple tissues and their role in the progression of highly prevalent metabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; email: richard.flavell@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henao-Mejia
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elinav
authors.forename: Christoph A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Thaiss
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Flavell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000502:physiology*; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D058847:Inflammasomes; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors