Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Activation and Measurement of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity Using IL-1β in Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells
Published on: May 22, 2014
Inflammasome activation and IL-1β and IL-18 processing during infection
Frank L van de Veerdonk1, Mihai G Netea, Charles A Dinarello
1Department of Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. f.veerdonk@aig.umcn.nl
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.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Inflammation I: Inflammatory Response
Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects
Chronic Inflammation: Introduction
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Acute Inflammation II: Cellular Phase
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease

