Inflammasomes and metabolic disorders: old genes in modern diseases.
Modern medical and hygienic practices have greatly improved human health and longevity; however, increased human life span occurs concomitantly with the emergence of metabolic and age-related diseases. Studies over the past decade have strongly linked host inflammatory responses to the etiology of several metabolic diseases including atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and gout. A common immunological factor to these diseases is the activation of the inflammasome and release of proinflammatory cytokines that promote disease progression. Here we review the molecular mechanism(s) of inflammasome activation in response to metabolic damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and discuss potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Gregory R
GR
Robbins
The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Haitao
H
Wen
The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: jenny_ting@med.unc.edu.
Jenny P-Y
JP
Ting
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006073:Gout / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000502:physiology*; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D058847:Inflammasomes