Year: 2020
Type: review
Abstract: Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that activate inflammatory cytokines and induce pyroptosis in response to intracellular danger-associated signals. NLRP1 and CARD8 are related germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors that form inflammasomes, but their activation mechanisms and biological purposes have not yet been fully established. Both NLRP1 and CARD8 undergo post-translational autoproteolysis to generate two non-covalently associated polypeptide chains. NLRP1 and CARD8 activators induce the proteasome-mediated destruction of the N-terminal fragment, liberating the C-terminal fragment to form an inflammasome. Here, we review the danger-associated stimuli that have been reported to activate NLRP1 and/or CARD8, including anthrax lethal toxin, Toxoplasma gondii, Shigella flexneri and the small molecule DPP8/9 inhibitor Val-boroPro, focusing on recent mechanistic insights and highlighting unresolved questions. In addition, we discuss the recently identified disease-associated mutations in NLRP1 and CARD8, the potential role that DPP9's protein structure plays in inflammasome regulation, and the emerging link between NLRP1 and metabolism. Finally, we summarize all of this latest research and consider the possible biological purposes of these enigmatic inflammasomes.
Source: Immunological Reviews
DOI: 10.1111/imr.12884
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,300
Funders: American Cancer Society, Pew Charitable Trusts, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, Robertson Foundation, Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance, Emerson Collective, National Institutes of Health, Stand Up To Cancer, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
OpenAlex ID: W3036492258