Inflammasomes in T cells. Issue 4 (28th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Linder, Andreas; Hornung, Veit
• Is Part Of: Journal of molecular biology. Volume 434:Issue 4(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02-28
• Subjects: inflammasome -- T cells -- T helper cells -- NLRP1 -- CARD8 -- pyroptosis; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Bacteriology -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Biologie -- Périodiques; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Moleculaire biologie; Biochemistry; Biology; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 572.805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167275
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2836

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Inflammasomes trigger the maturation of IL-1 family cytokines and induce pyroptosis. While mainly studied in innate immune cells, inflammasomes are also present in T cells. Conventional and unconventional inflammasome functions have been described in T cells. Inflammasomes can impact on T helper cell fate decision and function. The CARD8 inflammasome triggers T cell pyroptosis. Abstract: The concept of non-self recognition through germ-line encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) has been well-established for professional innate immune cells. However, there is growing evidence that also T cells employ PRRs and associated effector functions in response to certain non-self or damage signals. Inflammasomes constitute a special subgroup of PRRs that is hardwired to a signaling cascade that culminates in the activation of caspase-1. Active caspase-1 processes pro-inflammatory cytokines of the IL-1 family and also triggers a lytic programmed cell death pathway known as pyroptosis. An increasing body of literature suggests that inflammasomes are also functional in T cells. On the one hand, conventional inflammasome signaling cascades have been described that operate similarly to pathways characterized in innate immune cells. On the other hand, unconventional functions have been suggested, in which certain inflammasome components play a role in unrelated processes, such as cell fate decisions and functions of T helper cells. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge on inflammasome functions in T cells and the biological implications of these findings for health and disease.