Figure 2.

NLRP12 and the microbiome in intestinal inflammation. Chen et al. (2017a) describe a role for NLRP12 in protecting against intestinal inflammation through regulation of the microbiome. The authors show that NLRP12 functions in hematopoietic cells to promote microbial diversity and the colonization of commensals in the Bacteroidetes and Lachnospiraceae families. Lachnospiraceae promotes homeostasis and protects against DSS-colitis through the production of short-chain fatty acids. In the absence of NLRP12, DCs express increased inflammatory cytokines including TNFα and IL-6, resulting in dysbiosis, which involves the loss of Lachnospiraceae and an increase in Erysipelotrichaceae. Mice deficient in Nlrp12 therefore experience exacerbated DSS-colitis, which can be ameliorated by reconstitution of Lachnospiraceae or treatment with SCFAs.