The Inflammasome in viral, bacterial, and fungal infections
Abstract
Inflammasome activation leads to the processing of the TH1 cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 to their active form [36,5]. These cytokines have protective roles in many types of infection, by recruiting neutrophils and priming adaptive immunity, for example, thus inflammasome activity would be expected to be important in infection [36]. Inflammasome processing of full length gasdermin D (GSDMD) to its active N terminal to induce cell death of infected cells further supports the hypothesis of a role for these proteins in the host response against infection [53,90,5,91]. Many of the NOD-like receptors (NLRs) and AIM2 are activated by different pathogens leading to the concept that, like the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), these proteins are members of the Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) family. The cytosolic location of NLRs suggested they may be activated upon pathogen access (either directly or by effector delivery) to the host cell cytosol [36]. The lack of effectors in commensals may be a way in which pathogens are detected by the host [29].