Quantifying Cell Death Induced by the NLRC4 Inflammasome

Methods Mol Biol. 2023:2696:199-210. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3350-2_13.

Abstract

The Nod-like Receptor (NLR) apoptosis inhibitory proteins (NAIPs) are cytosolic receptors that sense cytosolic bacterial proteins. NAIP ligation induces its association with NLRC4, leading to the assembly of the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome, which induces the activation of the caspase-1 protease. Caspase-1 then cleaves pro-interleukin (IL)-1β, pro-IL-18, and gasdermin D and induces a form of pro-inflammatory cell death, pyroptosis. These processes culminate in host defense against bacterial infection. Here we describe methods for activating NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome signalling in human and murine macrophages and quantifying inflammasome-induced cell death.

Keywords: Cell death; Flatox; Inflammasome; Macrophages; NAIP; NLRC4; Needletox; Pyroptosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins* / metabolism
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Death
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes* / metabolism
  • Mice

Substances

  • Inflammasomes
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Caspases
  • Caspase 1
  • NLRC4 protein, human
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins