What diseases can an activated Absent In Melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome affect?

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From the Guidelines

An activated Absent In Melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome can affect diseases such as Still's disease and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).

Diseases Affected by AIM2 Inflammasome

  • Still's disease: characterized by elevated levels of serum IL-18 and S100 proteins, which are produced by inflammasome activation 1
  • Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS): a condition that can be diagnosed using biomarkers such as IL-18, CXCL-9, and adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) activity 1

Mechanism of AIM2 Inflammasome

The AIM2 inflammasome is a multiprotein platform that involves the adaptor protein ASC and NOD-like receptors (NLRs) or the cytosolic DNA sensor AIM2, leading to the activation of caspase-1 and the release of pyrogenic interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 1

Clinical Implications

The activation of the AIM2 inflammasome can lead to the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which can drive inflammation and tissue damage in diseases such as Still's disease and MAS 1

From the Research

Diseases Affected by Activated AIM2 Inflammasome

The activation of the Absent In Melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome has been implicated in various diseases, including:

  • Autoimmune diseases:
    • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 2
    • Psoriasis 2
    • Primary Sjogren's syndrome 2
  • Cancers:
    • Melanoma 2
    • Non-small-cell lung cancer 2
    • Colon cancer 2
    • Hepatocellular carcinoma 2, 3
    • Renal carcinoma 2
  • Oral diseases:
    • Various oral diseases, with the AIM2 inflammasome potentially being a key link between oral diseases and innate immunity 4
  • Inflammatory diseases:
    • Skin disease 5
    • Neuronal disease 5
    • Chronic kidney disease 5
    • Cardiovascular disease 5
    • Diabetes 5, 6
  • Metabolic diseases:
    • Obesity-related glucose and lipid metabolic disorders 6
    • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) 6, 3
    • Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) 3
    • Atherosclerosis 6
  • Liver diseases:
    • Hepatitis B 3
    • Liver fibrosis 3
    • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 3

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

The complex role of AIM2 in autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Immunity, inflammation and disease, 2021

Research

The Emerging Relevance of AIM2 in Liver Disease.

International journal of molecular sciences, 2020

Research

The Role of the AIM2 Gene in Obesity-Related Glucose and Lipid Metabolic Disorders: A Recent Update.

Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy, 2024

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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