Genetics of inflammasome-associated disorders: a lesson in the guiding principals of inflammasome function

Human genetics research has had a great impact on the genesis of the inflammasome field and the treatment of certain inflammasomopathies. The identification of mutations causing rare autoinflammatory syndromes, reproductive wastage disorders and of single nucleotide polymorphisms influencing susceptibility to complex diseases such as vitiligo, sepsis, and Crohn's disease has not only led to the characterization of novel proteins involved in NOD-like receptor-coupled inflammatory signaling pathways but also to greater insights into pathogenic mechanisms.