Interplays between inflammasomes and viruses, bacteria (pathogenic and probiotic), yeasts and parasites

Antushevich, Hanna

In recent years, scientists studying the molecular mechanisms of inflammation have discovered an amazing phenomenon – the inflammasome – a component of the innate immune system that can regulate the functional activity of effector cells during inflammation. At present, it is known that inflammasomes are multimolecular complexes (cytosolic multiprotein oligomers of the innate immune system) that contain many copies of receptors recognizing the molecular structures of cell-damaging factors and pathogenic agents. Inflammasomes are mainly formed in myeloid cells, and their main function is participation in the cleavage of the pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 cytokines into their biologically active forms (IL-1β, IL-18). Each type of microorganism influences particular inflammasome activation, and long-term exposure of the organism to viruses, bacteria, yeasts or parasites, among others, can induce uncontrolled inflammation and autoinflammatory diseases. Therefore, this review aims to present the most current scientific data on the molecular interplay between inflammasomes and particular microorganisms. Knowledge about the mechanisms responsible for the interaction between the host and certain types of microorganisms could contribute to the individuation of innovative strategies for the treatment of uncontrolled inflammation targeting a specific type of inflammasome activated by a specific type of pathogen.