COPs and POPs Patrol Inflammasome Activation

J Mol Biol. 2018 Jan 19;430(2):153-173. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.10.004. Epub 2017 Oct 10.

Abstract

Sensing and responding to pathogens and tissue damage is a core mechanism of innate immune host defense, and inflammasomes represent a central cytosolic pattern recognition receptor pathway leading to the generation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 and pyroptotic cell death that causes the subsequent release of danger signals to propagate and perpetuate inflammatory responses. While inflammasome activation is essential for host defense, deregulated inflammasome responses and excessive release of inflammatory cytokines and danger signals are linked to an increasing spectrum of inflammatory diseases. In this review, we will discuss recent developments in elucidating the role of PYRIN domain-only proteins (POPs) and the related CARD-only proteins (COPs) in regulating inflammasome responses and their impact on inflammatory disease.

Keywords: CARD-only protein; Caspase-1; IL-1β; PYD-only protein; inflammasome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caspase Activation and Recruitment Domain
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Inflammasomes / chemistry
  • Inflammasomes / immunology*
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Pyrin Domain

Substances

  • Inflammasomes