Sensors 2010, 10(1), 97-111; doi:10.3390/s100100097
Review

The Inflammasome in Host Defense

Gang Chenemail and Joao H.F. Pedra* email
Center for Disease Vector Research and Department of Entomology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, 92521, CA, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 2 December 2009; in revised form: 17 December 2009 / Accepted: 18 December 2009 / Published: 28 December 2009
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dendritic Sensors: From Dendrimer Molecules to Dendritic Cells)
PDF Full-text Download PDF Full-Text [719 KB, uploaded 28 December 2009 10:59 CET]
Abstract: Nod-like receptors have emerged as an important family of sensors in host defense. These receptors are expressed in macrophages, dendritic cells and monocytes and play an important role in microbial immunity. Some Nod-like receptors form the inflammasome, a protein complex that activates caspase-1 in response to several stimuli. Caspase-1 activation leads to processing and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Here, we discuss recent advances in the inflammasome field with an emphasis on host defense. We also compare differential requirements for inflammasome activation in dendritic cells, macrophages and monocytes.
Keywords: inflammasome; nod-like receptors; innate immunity

Article Statistics

Click here to load and display the download statistics.

Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Chen, G.; Pedra, J.H. The Inflammasome in Host Defense. Sensors 2010, 10, 97-111.

AMA Style

Chen G, Pedra JH. The Inflammasome in Host Defense. Sensors. 2010; 10(1):97-111.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chen, Gang; Pedra, Joao H. 2010. "The Inflammasome in Host Defense." Sensors 10, no. 1: 97-111.

Sensors EISSN 1424-8220 Published by MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland RSS E-Mail Table of Contents Alert