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 viral and bacterial origin in a non-sequence-specific manner. Can also trigger PYCARD-dependent, caspase-1-independent cell death that involves caspase-8 By similarity. Tumor suppressor which may act by repressing NF-kappa-B transcriptional activity.DeYoung K.L., Oncogene 15:453-457(1997).Gregory S.G., Nature 441:315-321(2006).