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BIBTEX RIS

Inflammasome in Intestinal Inflammation and Cancer

2013; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Volume: 2013; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1155/2013/654963

1466-1861

Tiago Nunes, Heitor Siffert Pereira de Souza,

Eosinophilic Esophagitis

The activation of specific cytosolic pathogen recognition receptors, the nucleotide-binding-oligomerization-domain- (NOD-) like receptors (NLRs), leads to the assembly of the inflammasome, a multimeric complex platform that activates caspase-1. The caspase-1 pathway leads to the upregulation of important cytokines from the interleukin (IL)-1 family, IL-1 β , and IL-18, with subsequent activation of the innate immune response. In this review, we discuss the molecular structure, the mechanisms behind the inflammasome activation, and its possible role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases and intestinal cancer. Here, we show that the available data points towards the importance of the inflammasome in the innate intestinal immune response, being the complex involved in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, correct intestinal barrier function and efficient elimination of invading pathogens.