The NLRP6 inflammasome in health and disease

Mucosal Immunol. 2020 May;13(3):388-398. doi: 10.1038/s41385-020-0256-z. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

Abstract

NACHT, LRR (leucine-rich repeat), and PYD (pyrin domain) domain-containing 6 (Nlrp6) is a member of the NLR (nucleotide-oligomerization domain-like receptor) family that patrols the cytosolic compartment of cells to detect pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns. Because Nlrp6 is a recently discovered inflammasome, details of its signaling mechanism, structural assembly, and roles in host defense have yet to be determined. To date, Nlrp6 has been proposed to perform a multitude of functions ranging from control of microbiota, maintenance of epithelial integrity, and regulation of metabolic diseases to modulation of host defense during microbial infections, cancer protection, and regulation of neuroinflammation. While recent studies have questioned some of the proposed functions of Nlrp6, Nlrp6 has been shown to form an inflammasome complex and cleaves interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 during microbial infection, indicating that it is a bonafide inflammasome. In this review, we summarize the recent advancements in knowledge of the signaling mechanisms and structure of the Nlrp6 inflammasome and discuss the relevance of NLRP6 to human disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Disease Susceptibility*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Homeostasis*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / genetics
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism*
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Metabolic Diseases / etiology
  • Metabolic Diseases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Inflammasomes
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NLRP6 protein, human