Inflammasomes in liver diseases

J Hepatol. 2012 Sep;57(3):642-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.03.035. Epub 2012 May 23.

Abstract

Inflammation is a common element in the pathogenesis of most chronic liver diseases that lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Inflammation is characterized by activation of innate immune cells and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNFα. Inflammasomes are intracellular multiprotein complexes expressed in both parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells of the liver that in response to cellular danger signals activate caspase-1, and release IL-1β and IL-18. The importance of inflammasome activation in various forms of liver diseases in relation to liver damage, steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis is discussed in this review.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Liver Diseases / enzymology
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism*
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLR Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • AIM2 protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLR Proteins
  • NLRC4 protein, human
  • NLRP1 protein, human
  • NLRP3 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Caspase 1