Down with doublespeak: NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes get specific

Down with doublespeak: NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes get specific

The NAIP family members are cytosolic pattern recognition receptors that detect the activity of bacterial type III secretion systems (T3SSs) when they aberrantly translocate one of three NAIP ligands. Mouse NAIP1 and NAIP2 bind the T3SS needle and rod proteins, whereas NAIP5 and NAIP6 bind flagellin. T4SSs are also detected when they cause flagellin to enter the cytosol. Upon interaction with i...

Get down to the nitty gritty.

T reg cells get specific

Naturally occurring regulatory T (T reg) cells suppress T cell–driven autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. Although the origin and function of these cells has been widely studied, the specificity of their T cell receptors (TCRs)—whether for self or foreign antigens on target cells—remains a matter of debate. Prevailing opinion comes down on the side of self-antigen. But now Suffia and colleag...

SnapShot: Inflammasomes

The Inflammasomes

Inflammasomes are molecular platforms activated upon cellular infection or stress that trigger the maturation of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta to engage innate immune defenses. Strong associations between dysregulated inflammasome activity and human heritable and acquired inflammatory diseases highlight the importance this pathway in tailoring immune responses. Here, we co...