inflammasoomien

Inflammasomes are multiprotein intracellular sensing platforms that play a crucial role in innate immunity. They are primarily responsible for detecting a wide range of danger signals, including pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from microbes and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from stressed or injured host cells. Upon activation, inflammasomes assemble into a large complex that cleaves and activates key inflammatory mediators, most notably the inflammatory caspases.

The canonical inflammasome pathway involves the activation of caspase-1, which then processes pro-interleukin-1 beta (pro-IL-1β) and pro-interleukin-18 (pro-IL-18) into their mature, secreted forms. IL-1β and IL-18 are potent cytokines that orchestrate inflammatory responses, recruit immune cells to sites of infection or injury, and induce pyroptosis, a form of inflammatory cell death. Different inflammasome complexes exist, characterized by their sensor proteins such as NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2, each recognizing specific types of danger signals.

The NLRP3 inflammasome is perhaps the most studied and is activated by a diverse array of stimuli, including crystals, pathogens, and reactive oxygen species. Dysregulation of inflammasome activity has been implicated in a variety of inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune disorders, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions, highlighting their critical importance in maintaining tissue homeostasis and their potential as therapeutic targets.