MEFV
MEFV (MEFV innate immunity regulator, pyrin) encodes pyrin, also known as marenostrin, an important modulator of innate immunity and the inflammatory response. The gene has also been called FMF, TRIM20 and MEF, and is a member of the tripartite motif family. Browse Assay Genie's current range of MEFV research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Pyrin, the protein product of the MEFV gene, regulates innate immunity and inflammation in response to IFN-gamma. It has a dual role. As an autophagy receptor, it recognises inflammasome components including CASP1, NLRP1 and NLRP3 and directs them for degradation, which helps prevent excessive IL-1 beta- and IL-18-mediated inflammation. It also organises the autophagic machinery, acting as a platform for the assembly of ULK1, Beclin 1 (BECN1), ATG16L1 and ATG8 family members, so coordinating target recognition with the start of autophagy.
Pyrin can also promote inflammation. Acting as an innate immune sensor, it triggers PYCARD/ASC speck formation, caspase-1 activation and the production of IL-1 beta and IL-18. Together with AIM2, it mediates pyroptosis, necroptosis and apoptosis (PANoptosis), a part of host defence against pathogens during bacterial infection. Pyrin is required for PSTPIP1-induced ASC oligomerisation and inflammasome formation, and it recruits PSTPIP1 to inflammasomes, where it is needed for PSTPIP1 oligomerisation. Researchers studying the MEFV gene or pyrin protein will find it described in the cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, membrane ruffles and lamellipodia, the nucleus and autophagosomes.
The gene belongs to the tripartite motif family and the pyrin domain containing group. Its former HGNC names include Mediterranean fever and pyrin innate immunity regulator, and TRIM20, FMF and MEF are recorded aliases. Mutations in MEFV are associated with Mediterranean fever, a hereditary periodic fever syndrome. Mouse and rat orthologs are both named Mefv.
Pyrin triggers ASC speck formation, caspase-1 activation and IL-1 beta and IL-18 production, and is needed for PSTPIP1-induced inflammasome formation.
Pyrin assembles ULK1, Beclin 1, ATG16L1 and ATG8 proteins and acts as a receptor that targets inflammasome components for degradation.
Mutations in MEFV are associated with Mediterranean fever, a hereditary periodic fever syndrome, making it central to periodic fever research.
With AIM2, pyrin mediates PANoptosis (pyroptosis, necroptosis and apoptosis) in response to bacterial infection.
MEFV encodes pyrin, which regulates innate immunity and inflammation in response to IFN-gamma. It can promote inflammasome activation by triggering ASC specks and caspase-1 activation. It can also limit inflammation by acting as an autophagy receptor that degrades CASP1, NLRP1 and NLRP3.
The protein is called pyrin or marenostrin. Aliases and previous symbols for the gene include FMF, TRIM20 and MEF. Earlier HGNC names were Mediterranean fever and MEFV, pyrin innate immunity regulator. The gene sits in the tripartite motif family and the pyrin domain containing group.
Mutations in MEFV are associated with Mediterranean fever, a hereditary periodic fever syndrome. Orthologs exist in mouse and rat, both named Mefv, so rodent models can be used in this area. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Inflammasome components, autophagy proteins and inflammatory cytokines that act alongside pyrin, with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O15553; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.