FIG. 4.
Inflammasome activation by ROS. Increased ROS production inside the cell either through NADPH oxidase or mitochondrial ETC is sensed by a complex of Trx and thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), which dissociates and enables the binding of TXINP with NLRP3. This is followed by activation of NLRP3 and recruitment of Asc and Pro-caspase1/12 proteins, leading to formation of active inflammasome. Active NLRP3 inflammasome cleaves pro-interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta and pro-IL-18 to active IL1 beta and IL-18, which are subsequently secreted by the inflammatory cells. PAMP, pathogen-associated molecular patterns; DAMP, danger-associated molecular patterns; ASC, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein. To see this illustration in color, the reader is referred to the web version of this article at www.liebertpub.com/ars