Pyroptosis- What We Know and the Road Ahead!

Abstract

Pyroptosis, a type of cell death, initiated by proinflammatory signals, is classically associated with inflammation. It was thought to occur mainly in macrophages and leukocytes during inflammatory conditions and involves the activation of caspase 1 {Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β)-converting enzyme} followed by the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β. The process takes place within dendritic cells and macrophages, although there have been few reports of caspase-1 activity within other cells. Induction of pyroptosis involves the caspase-1 activity, however, how its downstream substrates bring about cell death is not well understood. And recently, there has been an addition to the gasdermin family, namely, Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) protein, which plays an important role during pyroptosis. Pyroptosis has been found to have a significant role in tumourigenesis, as it extrudes inflammatory mediators which are vital for tumour development. It is also well known that the activity of proto-oncogenes and antioncogenes, the microenvironment of the immune system, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress, could determine tumourigenesis and hence the link to pyroptosis.

Keywords

• apoptosis
• caspase 1
• gasdermin
• inflammation