Signalling mechanisms of the NLRP1b inflammasome in innate immunity

The NLRP1 inflammasome is triggered by anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) and mutations in NLRP1 are associated with autoimmune diseases including vitiligo, lupus and diabetes type 1. To enable better therapeutic intervention, it is imperative to characterize the NLRP1b inflammasome pathway fully. Our preliminary data show that LeTx-treatment shifts towards apoptosis when caspase-1 is absent, but the mechanisms involved are unknown.