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In Vitro Assays to Study Inflammasome Activation in Primary Macrophages

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The Inflammasome

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2459))

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Abstract

Inflammasomes are multimeric complexes that can sense pathogens and danger signals in the environment. Upon detection of stimuli, caspase-1 is recruited to the inflammasome complex that cleaves and activates pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus initiating a cascade of inflammatory events. While inflammasomes form a crucial component of the host response to pathogens and danger molecules, their unchecked activation can result in the development of autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and pathological outcomes. This chapter describes some assays to detect the measurable outcomes of inflammasome formation and activation. The protocol describes the methods to study the inflammasome pathway using an in vitro assay in primary macrophages. It can be applied to studies investigating the pathway mechanisms and potential therapeutics in the form of inhibitors or activators.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Vijay Rathinam, D.V.M., Ph.D. for permitting the use of representative experimental data generated in his laboratory, proofreading the manuscript, and providing his helpful feed-back. I declare no competing financial interests.

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Author notes

  1. Ishita Banerjee

    Present address: Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pandion Therapeutics – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.,, Kenilworth, NJ, USA

    Ishita Banerjee

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  1. Ishita Banerjee
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Correspondence to Ishita Banerjee .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ali A. Abdul-Sater

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Banerjee, I. (2022). In Vitro Assays to Study Inflammasome Activation in Primary Macrophages. In: Abdul-Sater, A.A. (eds) The Inflammasome. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2459. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2144-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2144-8_2

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-2143-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-2144-8

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