An essential role for the NLRP3 inflammasome in host defense against the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans.

ABSTRACT: Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing life-threatening mucosal and systemic infections in immunocompromised humans. Using a murine model of mucosal Candida infection, we investigated the role of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1beta in host defense to Candida albicans. We find that the synthesis, processing, and release of IL-1beta in response to Candida are tightly controlled and first require transcriptional induction, followed by a second signal leading to caspase-1-mediated cleavage of the pro-IL-1beta cytokine. The known fungal pattern recognition receptors TLR2 and Dectin-1 regulate IL-1beta gene transcription, whereas the NLRP3-containing proinflammatory multiprotein complex, the NLRP3 inflammasome, controls caspase-1-mediated cleavage of pro-IL-1beta. Further

SUBMITTER: Hise AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2824856 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature