Molecular mechanism of pyroptosis and inflammasome activation

Abstract

Background Pyroptosis is a caspase 1-dependent programmed cell death. It features rapid plasma-membrane rupture and release of proinflammatory intracellular contents and induces a special programmed cell death, intermediate between apoptosis and necrosis,named pyroptosis. Objective This article reviews the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis and inflammasome activation to explore the possible future research and its prospect of clinical application. Content Pyroptosis is a conserved cell death process mediating inflammation and immune responses. Various pathological stimuli could trigger formation and activation of a multiprotein complex called the inflammasome, leading to the activation of caspase 1. A combination of downstream processes such as plasma-membrane pore formation, release of multiple activated inflammatory cytokines and DNA cleavage mediated by caspase 1, would eventually result in cell osmotic lysis and induce pyroptosis. Trend Exploring the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis and elucidate how inflammasome activates caspase 1 within pyroptosis will offer us some new targets to prevent and cure complicated immune diseases such as sepsis and inflammatory bowel disease. Key words: Programmed cell death; Pyroptosis; Inflammasome; Caspase-1