NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4

UniProtKB accession:  Q3UP24

Grouped By:  Matching UniProtKB accession

UniProtKB description:  Key component of inflammasomes that indirectly senses specific proteins from pathogenic bacteria and fungi and responds by assembling an inflammasome complex that promotes caspase-1 activation, cytokine production and macrophage pyroptosis. The NLRC4 inflammasome is activated as part of the innate immune response to a range of intracellular bacteria. It senses pathogenic proteins of the type III secretion system (T3SS) and type IV secretion system (T4SS) such as flagellin and PrgJ-like rod proteins via the Naip proteins (Naip1, Naip2 or Naip5): specific Naip proteins recognize and bind pathogenic proteins, driving assembly and activation of the NLRC4 inflammasome. The NLRC4 inflammasome senses Gram-negative bacteria such as L.pneumophila and P.aeruginosa, enteric pathogens S.typhimurium (Salmonella) and S.flexneri and fungal pathogen C.albicans. In intestine, the NLRC4 inflammasome is able to discriminate between commensal and pathogenic bacteria and specifically drives production of interleukin-1 beta (IL1B) in response to infection by Salmonella or P.aeruginosa. In case of L.pneumophila infection the inflammasome acts by activating caspase-7.