Figure 1.

The process of pyroptosis. This diagram illustrates the sequential stages of pyroptosis, a form of programmed necrosis mediated by gasdermin. The process begins with the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms (left), during which the invading pathogens interact with the host cell, triggering an inflammatory response. Cell swelling (top left) follows as the cell undergoes structural changes in response to the infection. As the pyroptotic response intensifies, bubble-like protrusions (top right) begin to form on the cell membrane, which is a hallmark of this cell death process. Subsequently, the cell forms a pyroptosis corpuscle (bottom right), consisting of membrane-bound structures created during pyroptosis. Finally, the process concludes with membrane rupture (bottom left), where the cell membrane breaks apart, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18, which contribute to inflammation and immune system activation.