[5][6][7] NLRPs, or NALPs, are cytoplasmic innate immune sensors that form a subfamily within the larger CATERPILLER protein family.

Some NLRPs, including NLRP12, are implicated in the activation of proinflammatory caspases (e.g., CASP1; MIM 147678) via their involvement in multiprotein complexes called inflammasomes in context-dependent manners[8] [supplied by OMIM].

[9] It can form multimeric protein cell death complexes known as inflammasomes and PANoptosomes in response to specific stimuli.

[9][11][12][13] However, NLRP12 acts as a negative regulator of the NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathways following infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, vesicular stomatitis virus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and in certain malignancies.

PANoptosomes are multi-protein complexes assembled by germline-encoded pattern-recognition receptor(s) (PRRs) (innate immune sensor(s)) in response to pathogens, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, as well as pathogen-associated molecular patterns, damage-associated molecular patterns, cytokines, and homeostatic changes during infections, inflammatory conditions, and cancer.