Immune Homeostasis in Epithelial Cells: Evidence and Role of Inflammasome Signaling Reviewed

J Immunol Res. 2015:2015:828264. doi: 10.1155/2015/828264. Epub 2015 Aug 19.

Abstract

The epithelium regulates the interaction between the noxious xenogenous, as well as the microbial environment and the immune system, not only by providing a barrier but also by expressing a number of immunoregulatory membrane receptors, and intracellular danger sensors and their downstream effectors. Amongst these are a number of inflammasome sensor subtypes, which have been initially characterized in myeloid cells and described to be activated upon assembly into multiprotein complexes by microbial and environmental triggers. This review compiles a vast amount of literature that supports a pivotal role for inflammasomes in the various epithelial barriers of the human body as essential factors maintaining immune signaling and homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Epithelium / immunology
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Homeostasis*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes
  • Mucous Membrane / immunology
  • Mucous Membrane / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / metabolism

Substances

  • Inflammasomes