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. 2013 Mar 8;4:50. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00050

Figure 1.

Figure 1

NLRP3 inflammasome activation during type II diabetes. The NLRP3 inflammasome is composed of NLRP3, ASC, and procaspase-1. During type II diabetes there is increased accumulation of endogenous danger-associated molecular patterns (ceramides, free cholesterol, etc.) which are sensed by the NLRP3 inflammasome. After sensing of DAMPs, inflammasome assembly occurs by interactions in the protein domains of NLRP3 ASC and procaspase-1. This leads to caspase-1 activation and the secretion of bioactive IL-1β and IL-18, which go on to cause insulin resistance and organ dysfunction.