Dendritic cell-mediated modulation of the immune system by endogenous danger signals

Dendritic cells play a central role in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity, and exert their sensor functions through a plethora of receptors, including the NLRP3-inflammasome. The role of NLRP3-inflammasome in sensing endogenous danger signals, such as MSU, has been deeply investigated in the last years. However the exact mechanism of MSU activation of DCs through NLPR3 is not completely defined yet. Moreover, little is known about the adjuvant role of MSU as promoter of DC- mediated priming of specific T cell subsets. Starting from these observations, the present work aims to describe evidences of the role of endogenous danger signals in the activation of the immune system. In particular, we investigated which is the role of MSU and its putative receptor NLRP3 in the activation of DCs and how this process is involved in starting both innate and adaptive immunity.