Cofilin-1 is an essential redox sensor for NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Introduction NLRP3 has a pivotal role in nucleating the inflammasome, a cytoplasmic multiprotein complex that mediates the maturation of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin1b (IL-1b) by activating caspase-1. Mutations in the gene encoding NLRP3 cause a spectrum of autoinflammatory disease, the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). It has been reported that generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major NLRP3 inflammasomeactivating factor. However, the molecular mechanism by which a change in cellular redox state leads to NLRP3 inflammasome activation has not been elucidated. Here we show that cofilin-1, a redox sensitive actin binding protein, is involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation.