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Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Detection of Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptotic Cell Death in Murine Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages
Published on: May 21, 2018
Inflammasomes: Exosomal miRNAs loaded for action
Sampsa Matikainen1, Tuula A Nyman2, Wojciech Cypryk3
1Helsinki Rheumatic Disease and Inflammation Research Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Clinicum, Helsinki, Finland.
Inflammasome activation triggers exosome release. This study reveals how inflammasome-mediated cleavage of Rab-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP) directs specific microRNAs into secreted exosomes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Inflammasomes are critical innate immune sensors.
- Inflammasome activation is known to induce exosome secretion.
- The precise mechanisms governing exosome content during inflammasome activation remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Rab-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP) in inflammasome-mediated exosome biogenesis and content.
- To identify the link between inflammasome activation, RILP cleavage, and the sequence-specific loading of microRNAs (miRNAs) into exosomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized inflammasome activation models.
- Performed biochemical assays to detect RILP cleavage products.
- Employed RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses to profile exosomal miRNAs.
- Investigated the interaction between RILP and miRNA loading machinery.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that inflammasome activation leads to the cleavage of RILP.
- Showed that cleaved RILP is involved in the sequence-specific packaging of miRNAs into exosomes.
- Identified a novel mechanism connecting inflammasome signaling to exosome cargo selection.
Conclusions:
- Inflammasome activation regulates exosome content through RILP cleavage.
- This mechanism provides specificity to miRNA loading into exosomes during innate immune responses.
- The findings offer new insights into intercellular communication during inflammation.
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