A NLRP3 inflammasome as well as Rac1 mediate IL-1beta production in C. pneumoniae-infected human monocytes

Chlamydophila pneumoniae cause respiratory tract infections and has been associated with development of asthma and atherosclerosis. The innate immune system recognizes C. pneumoniae via TLR2, TLR4 and NOD1/2 and thus initiates a NF-κB-driven gene expression of e.g. proIL-1β. proIL-1β needs subsequently to be processed to mature IL-1β by multiprotein complexes called inflammasomes which are formed by NOD-like receptor (NLR) molecules, ASC and caspase-1. In the present study we show that C. pneumoniae-infected human monocytes produced mature IL-1β. siRNA experiments revealed that the NLR NLRP3, the adapter protein…