NLR Family, Pyrin Domain Containing 1B Proteins

As the sensor component of the NLRP1 inflammasome, plays a crucial role in innate immunity and inflammation. In response to pathogens and other damage-associated signals, initiates the formation of the inflammasome polymeric complex, made of Nlrp1b, CASP1, and possibly PYCARD. Recruitment of proCASP1 to the inflammasome promotes its activation and CASP1-catalyzed IL1B and IL18 maturation and secretion in the extracellular milieu. Activation of NLRP1 inflammasome is also required for HMGB1 secretion. The active cytokines and HMGB1 stimulate inflammatory responses. Inflammasomes can also induce pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death (By similarity). May be activated by muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a fragment of bacterial peptidoglycan, in a NOD2-dependent manner (PubMed:18511561). Might be activated by Toxoplasma gondii, although at a lower extent than allele 1 (PubMed:24218483). Contrary to Nlrp1b allele 1, allele 2 is not activated by Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (PubMed:16429160, PubMed:21170303, PubMed:24492532). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q2LKW6, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16429160, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18511561, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21170303, ECO:0000269|PubMed:24492532}.