Nod-like receptors in the control of intestinal inflammation

The Nod-like receptor (NLR) family of intracellular pattern recognition molecules plays critical roles in the control of inflammation through the modulation of different signalling pathways, including those dependent on NF-kappa B and caspase-1-mediated cleavage of interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-18. A number of NLRs or NLR-associated proteins have been genetically associated with susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Accordingly, recent studies have examined the role of NLR proteins in chemical-induced or bacteria-induced murine models of colitis. In this review, we will discuss the genetic associations of NLRs with IBD and the research using NLR-deficient mice in different colitis models.