title: The NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes.
abstract: Inflammasomes comprise a family of cytosolic multi-protein complexes that sense infection, or other threats, and initiate inflammation via the recruitment and activation of the Caspase-1 protease. Although the precise molecular mechanism by which most inflammasomes are activated remains a subject of considerable debate, the NAIP/NLRC4 subfamily of inflammasomes is increasingly well understood. A crystal structure of NLRC4 was recently reported, and a domain in NAIPs that recognizes bacterial ligands was identified. In addition, gain-of-function mutations in NLRC4 have been shown to cause an auto-inflammatory syndrome in humans. Lastly, the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome has been shown to provide a novel form of cell intrinsic defense against Salmonella infection, involving expulsion of infected cells from the intestinal epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, United States; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, United States; Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States. Electronic address: rvance@berkeley.edu.
authors.forename: Russell E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Vance
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D051616:Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D051616:Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein