Exploring Inflammasome Expression and Activation Using Novel Reporter Mice

This thesis explores the expression and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a protein complex in the immune system, in cells and mice under healthy and disease models. The studies have been conducted using novel reporter mice, where fluorescent proteins are attached to components of the inflammasome that are produced at similar levels to those of a normal laboratory mouse. Findings from these studies have established a new paradigm of how the inflammasome works under biological conditions and validate the use of novel reporter mice to investigate the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in different diseases.