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:
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Absent in melanoma-2
- ASC:
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Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD
- CIITA:
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Major histocompatibility class II transcription activator
- CARD:
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Caspase activation and recruitment domain
- Caspase:
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Cysteinyl aspartate protease
- DAMPs:
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Damage-associated molecular patterns
- HET-E:
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A predicted NTPase and...
References
Chen GY, Nunez G (2011) Inflammasomes in intestinal inflammation and cancer. Gastroenterology 141(6):1986–1999
Horvath GL, Schrum JE, De Nardo CM, Latz E (2011) Intracellular sensing of microbes and danger signals by the inflammasomes. Immunol Rev 243(1):119–135
Latz E (2010) The inflammasomes: mechanisms of activation and function. Curr Opin Immunol 22(1):28–33, PMCID: 2844336
Strowig T, Henao-Mejia J, Elinav E, Flavell R (2012) Inflammasomes in health and disease. Nature 481(7381):278–286
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Chu, FF. (2014). Inflammosome. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_7129-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_7129-2
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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