The NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes.

The NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes.
Curr Opin Immunol. 2015 Jan 23;32C:84-89
Authors: Vance RE
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.
PMID: 25621709 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Current Opinion in Immunology - January 23, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Vance RE Tags: Curr Opin Immunol Source Type: research