Electrostatic influence of IL-1 transport through the GSDMD pore

Abstract

A variety of cellular stimuli including inflammasome activation trigger the formation of large transmembrane gasdermin D (GSDMD) pores. There are two primary functions of GSDMD pores, to drive lytic cell death known as pyroptosis and to permit the release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) family cytokines including IL-1β and IL-18, a process that does not require pyroptosis. We are interested in the mechanism by which the GSDMD pore channels IL-1 release from living cells. Recent studies revealed that electrostatic interaction plays a critical role in GSDMD-dependent IL-1 release.