Caspase-11 Plays a Protective Role in Pulmonary Acinetobacter baumannii Infection.

Activation of caspase-11 by some Gram-negative bacteria triggers the caspase-1/interleukin 1β (IL-1β) pathway, independent of canonical inflammasomes. is a Gram-negative, conditionally pathogenic bacterium that can cause severe pulmonary infection in hospitalized patients. was revealed to activate canonical and noncanonical inflammasome pathways in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Pulmonary infection of caspase-11 mice with showed that caspase-11 deficiency impaired clearance, exacerbated pulmonary pathological changes, and enhanced susceptibility to These data indicate that the caspase-11-mediated innate immune response plays a crucial role in defending against .