Figure 8. Exposure to a stressor activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system resulting in changes to the commensal flora (including a decrease in prevotella) and the release of microbe associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) as well as the the release of danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) either actively or via cell death.

DAMP and MAMP signals then converge upon the inflammasome to yield IL-1β and IL-18 production. DAMPs may also act to drive responses from inflammasome independent inflammatory proteins including IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1.