Immunology

Innate immune cells sense pathogen and danger-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs) through a range of innate immune pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). One type of PRRs are the Nod-like receptors (NLRs), which form inflammasomes; a molecular platform required for the recruitment and activation of Caspase-1, which in turn cleaves and activates IL-1β, IL-18. Examples of inflammasome forming NLRs are NLRP3, NLRP1, NAIP and NLRC4. We can easily identify new inflammasome activators by performing the following protocol.