Inflammasome activation and IL-1β and IL-18 processing during infection

Trends Immunol. 2011 Mar;32(3):110-6. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2011.01.003. Epub 2011 Feb 18.

Abstract

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 contribute to host defense against infection by augmenting antimicrobial properties of phagocytes and initiating Th1 and Th17 adaptive immune responses. Protein complexes called inflammasomes activate intracellular caspase-1 autocatalytically, which cleaves the inactive precursors of IL-1β and IL-18 into bioactive cytokines. In this review, we discuss the controversies regarding inflammasome activation and the role of the inflammasome during infection. We highlight alternative mechanisms for processing IL-1β and IL-18 during infection, which involve extracellular cleavage of the inactive cytokines by neutrophil-derived serine proteases or proteases released from cytotoxic T cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Infections / immunology*
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Interleukin-18 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-1beta / immunology*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-18
  • Interleukin-1beta