Figure 1.

The inflammasome is comprised of caspase-1, ASC, and an NLR such as NLRP1 or NLRP3. Two events involved in the activation of the inflammasome are endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Upon activation of the inflammasome, caspase-1 is cleaved. Once cleaved (activated), caspase-1 goes on to cleave the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β to induce inflammation. In addition, the substrate of pyroptosis (inflammasome-mediated cell death) gasdermin-D (GSDM-D) is cleaved. GSDM-D cleavage results in the formation of pores through which IL-1β is then released as well as cell death.