Encyclopedia
NLR family pyrin domain containing 3
- genes
1. Introduction
The NLRP3 gene (also known as CIAS1) provides instructions for making a protein called cryopyrin. Cryopyrin is a member of a family of proteins called nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing (NLR) proteins, which are found in the fluid inside cells (cytoplasm). Cryopyrin is found mainly in white blood cells and in cartilage-forming cells (chondrocytes).
NLR proteins are involved in the immune system, helping to start and regulate the immune system's response to injury, toxins, or invasion by microorganisms. These proteins recognize specific molecules, become activated, and respond by helping to engage components of the immune system. Cryopyrin recognizes bacterial particles; chemicals such as asbestos, silica, and uric acid crystals; and compounds released by injured cells.
Once activated, groups of cryopyrin molecules assemble themselves along with other proteins into structures called inflammasomes, which are involved in the process of inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the immune system sends signaling molecules as well as white blood cells to a site of injury or disease to fight microbial invaders and facilitate tissue repair.
2. Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
2.1. Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome
Several mutations in the NLRP3 gene have been identified in people with familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome. These mutations are in a region of the gene known as exon 3. Researchers believe that the mutations cause cryopyrin to be hyperactive, leading to episodes of fever and inflammation that are usually triggered by exposure to cold.
2.2. Muckle-Wells syndrome
At least 10 mutations in exon 3 of the NLRP3 gene have been identified in people with Muckle-Wells syndrome. These mutations are believed to cause hyperactive cryopyrin, resulting in episodes of fever and inflammation, as well as the hearing loss and kidney problems that occur in Muckle-Wells syndrome.
2.3. Neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease
About 30 mutations in the NLRP3 gene have been identified in people with neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). Almost all of these mutations are found in exon 3. The mutations likely cause cryopyrin to be hyperactive, leading to an inappropriate inflammatory response that results in episodes of fever and widespread inflammatory damage to the body's cells and tissues. It is unclear why some mutations in exon 3 cause the severe symptoms of NOMID, some cause the less serious familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, and others cause Muckle-Wells syndrome, which is intermediate in severity.
3. Other Names for This Gene
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AGTAVPRL
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AII
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AII/AVP
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AII/AVP receptor-like
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angiotensin/vasopressin receptor AII/AVP-like
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AVP
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C1orf7
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CIAS1
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CLR1.1
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cryopyrin
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FCAS
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FCU
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FLJ95925
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MWS
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NACHT domain-, leucine-rich repeat-, and PYD-containing protein 3
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NACHT, LRR and PYD containing protein 3
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NALP3
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NALP3_HUMAN
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NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3
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nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine rich repeat and pyrin domain containing 3
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PYPAF1
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PYRIN-containing APAF1-like protein 1
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/nlrp3
References
- Aksentijevich I, Putnam CD, Remmers EF, Mueller JL, Le J, Kolodner RD, Moak Z,Chuang M, Austin F, Goldbach-Mansky R, Hoffman HM, Kastner DL. The clinicalcontinuum of cryopyrinopathies: novel CIAS1 mutations in North American patients and a new cryopyrin model. Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Apr;56(4):1273-1285. doi:10.1002/art.22491.
- Church LD, Cook GP, McDermott MF. Primer: inflammasomes and interleukin 1beta in inflammatory disorders. Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2008 Jan;4(1):34-42. doi:10.1038/ncprheum0681. Review.
- Farasat S, Aksentijevich I, Toro JR. Autoinflammatory diseases: clinical andgenetic advances. Arch Dermatol. 2008 Mar;144(3):392-402. Review.
- Mariathasan S, Weiss DS, Newton K, McBride J, O'Rourke K, Roose-Girma M, LeeWP, Weinrauch Y, Monack DM, Dixit VM. Cryopyrin activates the inflammasome inresponse to toxins and ATP. Nature. 2006 Mar 9;440(7081):228-32.
- Sutterwala FS, Ogura Y, Szczepanik M, Lara-Tejero M, Lichtenberger GS, GrantEP, Bertin J, Coyle AJ, Galán JE, Askenase PW, Flavell RA. Critical role forNALP3/CIAS1/Cryopyrin in innate and adaptive immunity through its regulation ofcaspase-1. Immunity. 2006 Mar;24(3):317-27.
- Touitou I, Lesage S, McDermott M, Cuisset L, Hoffman H, Dode C, Shoham N,Aganna E, Hugot JP, Wise C, Waterham H, Pugnere D, Demaille J, Sarrauste deMenthiere C. Infevers: an evolving mutation database for auto-inflammatorysyndromes. Hum Mutat. 2004 Sep;24(3):194-8.
- Tunca M, Ozdogan H. Molecular and genetic characteristics of hereditaryautoinflammatory diseases. Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy. 2005Feb;4(1):77-80. Review.
