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Inflammasomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

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Abstract

The immune system facilitates diverse mechanism to recognize threats for the host including distinct families of germ-line encoded receptors. Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that are built around several different sensor proteins including NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2. Upon induced assembly they regulate the activity of inflammatory caspases including caspase-1. Activation of Caspase-1 results in the production of two potent cytokines, IL-1beta and IL-18, by processing of the pro-proteins into their mature form. The assembly of inflammasomes is induced by many signals that include pathogen-derived molecules or stress-induced endogenous molecules. While inflammasome function is important in antimicrobial defense, mutations in inflammasome components have been identified as causal factors in several human inherited auto inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, inflammasome activity is important in many pathological conditions including type II diabetes, arthrosclerosis, and pulmonary diseases by driving inflammation. Recognition of the underlying diseases mechanisms opens the door for the development of novel and specific therapies for these diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar Street, TAC S-569, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Till Strowig PhD & Richard A. Flavell PhD

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  1. Till Strowig PhD
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  2. Richard A. Flavell PhD
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Correspondence to Richard A. Flavell PhD .

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  1. Medical School of the Humboldt Universit, Department of Medicine, Charité Medical Center, Virchow Hospita, Berlin, 13344, Germany

    Daniel C. Baumgart

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Strowig, T., Flavell, R.A. (2012). Inflammasomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. In: Baumgart, D. (eds) Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0998-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0998-4_7

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