Abstract: A transgenic mouse expressing the human gene for PYRIN domain-only protein 2 (POP2). POP2, when expressed in the transgenic mouse model, broadly dampens inflammatory cytokine production, in part through restricting the activation of both Nlrp3 and Aim2 inflammasomes. POP2 mice exhibit reduced susceptibility to LPS- and bacteria-induced septic shock. Further, POP2 mice are less susceptible to the fatal, acute inflammatory pneumonia caused by pulmonary infection with F. tularensis LVS and F. novicida, which are highly pathogenic to mice, but non-pathogenic to humans.

Abstract: A transgenic mouse expressing the human gene for PYRIN domain-only protein 2 (POP2). POP2, when expressed in the transgenic mouse model, broadly dampens inflammatory cytokine production, in part through restricting the activation of both Nlrp3 and Aim2 inflammasomes. POP2 mice exhibit reduced susceptibility to LPS- and bacteria-induced septic shock. Further, POP2 mice are less susceptible to the fatal, acute inflammatory pneumonia caused by pulmonary infection with F. tularensis LVS and F. novicida, which are highly pathogenic to mice, but non-pathogenic to humans.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel pyrin-only protein (POP2), polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them. POP2 is a 294 nt single exon gene located on human chromosome 3 encoding a 97 amino acid protein with sequence and predicted structural similarity to other pyrin domains. Highly similar to pyrin domains in CATERPILLER (CLR, NLR, NALP) family proteins, POP2 is less like the prototypic Pyrin and ASC pyrin domains. POP2 is expressed principally in peripheral blood leukocytes and displays both cytoplasmic and nuclear expression patterns in transfected cells. TNF?-stimulated and p65 (RelA) induced NF-?B-dependent gene transcription is inhibited by POP2 in vitro by a mechanism involving changes in NF-?B nuclear import or distribution. While colocalizing with ASC in perinuclear specks, POP2 also inhibits the formation of specks by the CLR protein CIAS1/NALP3. POP2 is a negative regulator of NF-?B activity that may influence the assembly of pyrin-domain dependent complexes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new family of structurally and functionally related nucleic acids and proteins, designed the CATERPILLER family, which is characterized by landmark structural motifs including a nucleotide binding domain and leucine-rich repeat domains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new family of structurally and functionally related nucleic acids and proteins, designed the CATERPILLER family, which is characterized by landmark structural motifs including a nucleotide binding domain and leucine-rich repeat domains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new family of structurally and functionally related nucleic acids and proteins, designed the CATERPILLER family, which is characterized by landmark structural motifs including a nucleotide binding domain and leucine-rich repeat domains.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel pyrin-only protein (POP2), polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them. The polypeptides of this invention have nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) modulating activity. NF-?B is pivotal for transactivation of cell-cycle regulatory, cytokine and adhesion molecule genes and is dysregulated in many cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and inflammatory diseases. Proteins with Pyrin and/or caspase recruitment (CARD) domains have roles in apoptosis, innate immunity, and inflammation. Many pyrin domain proteins modulate NF-KB activity as well as participate in assembling both the perinuclear “apoptotic speck” and the pro-IL1?/IL-18 converting inflammasome complex. ‘Pyrin-only’ proteins are attractive as negative regulators of pyrin domain-mediated functions and one such protein, POP1, has been reported. We teach a second Pyrin-only protein (POP2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new family of structurally and functionally related nucleic acids and proteins, designed the CATERPILLER family, which is characterized by landmark structural motifs including a nucleotide binding domain and leucine-rich repeat domains.