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Review
. 2011 Dec;84(4):333-43.

Regulating caspase-1 during infection: roles of NLRs, AIM2, and ASC

Christopher L Case  1
Affiliations
Review

Regulating caspase-1 during infection: roles of NLRs, AIM2, and ASC

Christopher L Case. Yale J Biol Med. 2011 Dec.

Abstract

Pathogens are detected by a variety of innate immune sensors in host cells leading to rapid induction of cell autonomous responses. Proinflammatory cytokine secretion and a specialized form of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis are induced during infection through activation of caspase-1. Pathogen-induced caspase-1 activation is regulated in large part by a vast array of cystosolic sensor proteins, including NLRs and AIM2, and an adaptor protein called ASC. Together, these proteins cooperate in forming caspase-1 activation platforms and, more importantly, direct caspase-1 toward cytokine secretion or cell death.

Keywords: caspase-1; host/pathogen interactions; inflammasome; inflammatory response to pathogens; innate immune response.

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