Regulatory molecules involved in inflammasome form

Authors: Shun’ichiro Taniguchi Junji Sagara

Publish Date: 2007/09/06

Volume: 29, Issue: 3, Pages: 231-238

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Abstract

The recent identification of cytosolic pattern recognition receptors PRRs with leucinerich repeats which recognize pathogenassociated molecular patterns PAMPs has been garnering considerable attention Activated PRRs form molecular complexes called inflammasomes consisting of related proteins that include procaspase 1interleukin IL 1β converting enzyme ICE Inflammasomes have been shown to facilitate molecular proximity stimulate activation of procaspase 1 which consequently produces inflammatory cytokines IL1β and IL18 and ultimately lead to the initiation of innate immunity An adaptor protein apoptosisassociated specklike protein containing a CARD ASC which recruits PRRs carrying the pyrin homologous domain PYD and procaspase 1 through PYD and CARD respectively is responsible for the formation of some inflammasomes and also activation of procaspase 1 In this review our main attention will be directed to PYD region analysis of ASC to understand the interaction between PYDcarrying PRRs and ASC Taking into consideration the other aspects of the ASC gene in the proapoptotic ability and downregulation by methylation the biological function of ASC will be discussed in relation to the epigenetic aspects of infection inflammation and cancer

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