Inflammosome

Definition

An inflammasome is an intracellular multiprotein complex that responds to exogenous or endogenous danger or damage signals to activate caspase-1, which promotes secretion of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and pyroptosis (a form of phagocyte cell death induced by bacterial pathogens). Different inflammasomes are named after the core protein in the complex; they are NLRP1 inflammasome, NLRP3 inflammasome, NLRP6 inflammasome, NLRC4/IPAF inflammasome, and AIM2 inflammasome. Inflammasomes play major roles in innate immunity by activating an inflammation in response to pathogens but also to self-danger signals.

Characteristics

List of Abbreviations

AIM2:

Absent in melanoma-2

ASC:

Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD

CIITA:

Major histocompatibility class II transcription activator

CARD:

Caspase activation and recruitment domain

Caspase:

Cysteinyl aspartate protease

DAMPs:

Damage-associated molecular patterns

HET-E:

A predicted NTPase and...