Interferon-inducible protein AIM2 (AIM2)

Involved in innate immune response by recognizing cytosolic double-stranded DNA and inducing caspase-1-activating inflammasome formation in macrophages. Upon binding to DNA is thought to undergo oligomerization and to associate with PYCARD initiating the recruitment of caspase-1 precusrsor and processing of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-18.

Detects cytosolic dsDNA of bacterial and viral origin in a non-sequence-specific method. Can also trigger PYCARD-dependent, caspase-1-independent cell death that involves caspase-8 (By similarity).