Involved in innate immune response by recognizing cytosolic double-stranded DNA and inducing caspase-1-activating inflammasome formation in macrophages (PubMed:19131592, PubMed:19158675, PubMed:19158676, PubMed:20351692, PubMed:20351693, PubMed:20417169, PubMed:20457908, PubMed:21902795, PubMed:23567559). Upon binding to DNA is thought to undergo oligomerization and to associate with PYCARD initiating the recruitment of caspase-1 precursor and processing of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-18 (PubMed:19131592, PubMed:19158675, PubMed:19158676, PubMed:20351692, PubMed:20351693, PubMed:20417169, PubMed:20457908, PubMed:21902795, PubMed:23567559). Detects cytosolic dsDNA of viral and bacterial origin in a non-sequence-specific manner (PubMed:19131592, PubMed:19158675, PubMed:20351692, PubMed:23567559). Also acts as a mediator of pyroptosis, necroptosis and apoptosis (PANoptosis), an integral part of host defense against pathogens, in response to bacterial infection (PubMed:34471287). Can also trigger PYCARD-dependent, caspase-1-independent cell death that involves caspase-8 (PubMed:22555457). In absence of dsDNA pyrin and HIN-20 domain can interact inducing a closed conformation; an autoinhibitory mechanism is proposed in which binding to dsDNA liberates the pyrin domain for homotypic downstream signaling interactions with PYCARD. Self-associates; forms homooligomers in response to cytosolic dsDNA and the dsDNA seems to serve as oligomerization platform (By similarity). Component of the AIM2 inflammasome complex (By similarity). Interacts with PYCARD (By similarity). Interacts with IFI16 (By similarity). Interacts with EIF2AK2/PKR (By similarity). Interacts with PYDC5; disrupts assembly of the ALR inflammasome complex (By similarity). Component of the AIM2 PANoptosome complex, a multiprotein complex that drives inflammatory cell death (PANoptosis) (PubMed:34471287). The HIN-20 domain mediates dsDNA binding via electrostatic interactions. The pyrin domain mediates homotypic interaction with PYCARD. Belongs to the HIN-200 family.