Transcriptional regulation and function of NLRP12

Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are evolutionarily conserved intracellular PRRs (Pattern Recognition Receptors) that play an important role in host defense and physiology. NLRP12 is a NLR protein which is expressed predominantly in cells of myeloid origin. Because NLRP12 expression is restricted to immune cells and its expression is down-regulated in response to pathogens, pathogen products and inflammatory cytokines, it has been predicted that NLRP12 functions in regulating inflammation and immunity. Although NLRP12 was one of the earliest identified NLRPs, its precise function(s) is not fully understood as yet. Despite the increasing number of publications, the role of NLRP12 remains ambiguous because of conflicting results. In this PhD thesis, the regulation of NLRP12 promoter activity by NF-B, the transcriptional modulation of NLRP12 expression during myeloid cell lines and primary monocytes stimulation/differentiation as well as the effects of NLRP12 over-expression on the growth of monocytic cell line U937 are reported.