Center for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
Viruses. 2024 Sep 27;16(10):1535. doi: 10.3390/v16101535.
Influenza A viruses (IAV) are dynamic and highly mutable respiratory pathogens that present persistent public health challenges. Inflammasomes, as components of the innate immune system, play a crucial role in the early detection and response to infections. They react to viral pathogens by triggering inflammation to promote immune defences and initiate repair mechanisms. While a strong response is necessary for early viral control, overactivation of inflammasomes can precipitate harmful hyperinflammatory responses, a defining characteristic observed during severe influenza infections. The Absent in Melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome, traditionally recognised for its role as a DNA sensor, has recently been implicated in the response to RNA viruses, like IAV. Paradoxically, AIM2 deficiency has been linked to both enhanced and reduced vulnerability to IAV infection. This review synthesises the current understanding of AIM2 inflammasome activation during IAV and explores its clinical implications. Understanding the nuances of AIM2's involvement could unveil novel therapeutic avenues for mitigating severe influenza outcomes.
甲型流感病毒(IAV)是一种具有动态性和高度可变性的呼吸道病原体,对公共卫生构成持续挑战。作为先天免疫系统的组成部分,炎症小体在早期检测和应对感染方面发挥着至关重要的作用。它们通过触发炎症来对病毒病原体做出反应,以促进免疫防御并启动修复机制。虽然强烈的反应对于早期控制病毒是必要的,但炎症小体的过度激活会导致有害的过度炎症反应,这是在严重流感感染中观察到的一个特征。AIM2 炎症小体(Absent in Melanoma 2)传统上被认为是 DNA 传感器,最近被牵连到 RNA 病毒(如 IAV)的反应中。矛盾的是,AIM2 的缺乏与对 IAV 感染的易感性增强和降低都有关。这篇综述综合了目前对 IAV 期间 AIM2 炎症小体激活的理解,并探讨了其临床意义。了解 AIM2 参与的细微差别可能为减轻严重流感的后果提供新的治疗途径。