Pseudomonas aeruginosa pilin activates the inflammasome.

ABSTRACT: IL-1β is produced from inactive pro-IL-1β by activation of caspase-1 brought about by a multi-subunit protein platform called the inflammasome. Many bacteria can trigger inflammasome activity through flagellin activation of the host protein NLRC4. However, strains of the common human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa lacking flagellin can still activate the inflammasome. We set out to identify what non-flagellin components could produce this activation. Using mass spectroscopy, we identified an inflammasome-activating factor from P. aeruginosa as pilin, the major component of the type IV bacterial pilus. Purified pilin introduced into mouse macrophages by liposomal delivery activated caspase-1 and led to secretion of mature IL-1β, as did recombinant pilin purified from Escherichia coli. This

SUBMITTER: Arlehamn CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3429865 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature