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Review
. 2021 Apr;22(4):412-422.
doi: 10.1038/s41590-021-00869-6. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Inflammasomes and adaptive immune responses

Katherine A Deets  1 , Russell E Vance  2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Inflammasomes and adaptive immune responses

Katherine A Deets et al. Nat Immunol. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

A fundamental concept in immunology is that the innate immune system initiates or instructs downstream adaptive immune responses. Inflammasomes are central players in innate immunity to pathogens, but how inflammasomes shape adaptive immunity is complex and relatively poorly understood. Here we highlight recent work on the interplay between inflammasomes and adaptive immunity. We address how inflammasome-dependent release of cytokines and antigen activates, shapes or even inhibits adaptive immune responses. We consider how distinct tissue or cellular contexts may alter the effects of inflammasome activation on adaptive immunity and how this contributes to beneficial or detrimental outcomes in infectious diseases, cancer and autoimmunity. We aspire to provide a framework for thinking about inflammasomes and their connection to the adaptive immune response.

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