Activation of the innate immune system requires recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as NOD-like receptors. The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in induction of the pro- inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, and subsequent inflammatory responses. NLRP3 inflammasome plays important roles in the inflammatory and innate immune responses associated with au...

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is an intracellular protozoan parasite and the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a chronic infectious illness that affects millions of people worldwide. Although the role of TLR and Nod1 in the control of T. cruzi infection is well-established, the involvement of inflammasomes remains to be elucidated. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that T. cruzi infec...

BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and caspase-1 in fetal membrane and placental tissues of patients with premature rupture of membrane (PROM), and to explore their role in PROM. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety women participated in this study: a control group of 30 healthy pregnant women, 30 with PPROM, and 30 with TPROM. Immunoh...

Bacterial pneumonia is a major cause of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, characterized by alveolar barrier disruption. NLRP3 is best known for its ability to form inflammasomes and to regulate IL-1β and IL-18 production in myeloid cells. Here we show that NLRP3 protects the integrity of the alveolar barrier in a mouse model of Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced pneumonia...

Excessive activation of the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in many chronic inflammatory diseases, including cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease. Here we show that microtubule-affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) binds to NLRP3 and drives it to the microtubule-organizing centre, enabling the formation of one large inflammasome speck complex within a sing...

Inflammation with macrophage infiltration is a key feature of atherosclerosis. Although the mechanisms had been unclear, emerging evidence unveiled that NLRP3 inflammasomes, which regulate caspase-1 activation and subsequent processing of pro-IL-1β, trigger vascular wall inflammatory responses and lead to progression of atherosclerosis. NLRP3 inflammasomes are activated by various danger signal...

The inflammasome NLRP3 is activated by pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) during infection, including RNA and proteins from influenza A virus (IAV). However, chronic activation by danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) can be deleterious to the host. We show that blocking NLRP3 activation can be either protective or detrimental at different stages of lethal influenza A virus (...

Cerebral malaria is the most severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection in humans and the pathogenesis is still unclear. Using the P. berghei ANKA infection model of mice, we investigated a potential involvement of Nlrp3 and the inflammasome in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. Nlrp3 mRNA expression was upregulated in brain endothelial cells after exposure to P. berghei ANKA. Al...

Introduction and objectives NOMID, also known as CINCA syndrome, is a dominantly inherited autoinflammatory disease caused by NLRP3 mutations. The pathophysiology of NOMID is explained by gain of function mutation of NLRP3, which activates NLRP3 inflammasome and produce an excess of IL-1b. This mechanism is supported by clinical observation that anti-IL-1 therapy is effective on its systemic in...

Numerous atypical mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium abscessus (Mabc), cause nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, which present a serious public health threat. Inflammasome activation is involved in host defense and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, inflammasome activation has not been widely characterized in human macrophages infected with atypical mycobacteria. Here, we...