An overview of human inflammasomes: Activation and regulation

The innate immune system has evolved as the primary response mechanism against microbial infections, tissue damage, and cellular stress. Signals that disrupt homeostasis are sensed by pattern recognition receptors and initiate innate immune responses to restore homeostasis. Some intracellular pattern recognition receptors belonging to the Nod-like receptor, AIM2-like receptor, and pyrin family initiate the assembly of a multiprotein signaling platform called inflammasome. Subsequent protease activation enables maturation and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 and initiation of a proinflammatory cell death, called pyroptosis. Importantly, inflammasome dysregulation is involved in numerous diseases. While many inflammasomes are evolutionary highly conserved, some species have unique sensor proteins and unique regulatory mechanisms. Recently, significant characteristics of human inflammasomes and their regulation have been identified. These exciting insights into human inflammasome biology will be crucial for our efforts to understand human physiology and to develop inflammasome-based treatment strategies. Here, we highlight distinct features of human inflammasomes.