Expression mechanism and clinical significance of absent in melanoma 2 in liver diseases / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is a cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) sensing protein that can recognize the dsDNA released during cell disturbance and pathogen invasion and trigger the activation of inflammasome cascade. Activation of inflammasomes leads to the maturation and release of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and interleukin-18), induces pyroptosis, and initiate innate immune response. Among these inflammasomes, AIM2 and its mechanism of action and clinical significance in liver diseases has become a research hotspot at present. This article summarizes and discusses the importance of AIM2 in the pathogenesis of various liver diseases including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis B virus infection, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, so as to provide new ideas and a reference for clinical treatment.