title: Bacterial Exotoxins and the Inflammasome.
abstract: The inflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes that play an important role in innate immune sensing. Activation of inflammasomes leads to activation of caspase-1 and maturation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. In certain myeloid cells, this activation can also lead to an inflammatory cell death (pyroptosis). Inflammasome sensor proteins have evolved to detect a range of microbial ligands and bacterial exotoxins either through direct interaction or by detection of host cell changes elicited by these effectors. Bacterial exotoxins activate the inflammasomes through diverse processes, including direct sensor cleavage, modulation of ion fluxes through plasma membrane pore formation, and perturbation of various host cell functions. In this review, we summarize the findings on some of the bacterial exotoxins that activate the inflammasomes.
authors.affiliation: Microbial Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Greaney
authors.affiliation: Microbial Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Leppla
authors.affiliation: Microbial Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Mahtab
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moayeri
keywords: NLRP3; Nod-like receptors; anthrax lethal toxin; caspase-1; exotoxins; inflammasome; interleukin-1; pyroptosis