Figure 2.

Role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in protection against inflammatory bowel diseases. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns from H. pylori trigger NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which upregulates caspase-1 expression, thereby leading to the activation of interleukin IL-18 and IL-1β cytokines. IL-1β as a potent pro-inflammatory agent and IL-18 by controlling responses mediated by TCD4+ cells promote extragastric immunomodulation by suppressing the Th-17 response in the cecum and increasing IL-10 in the mesenteric lymph nodes. H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori; IL: interleukin; NLRP3: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3.