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. 2020 Sep 4;10:1587. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01587

FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2

Activation of the canonical NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in two steps. Signal 1: microbial ligands are recognized by TLR that leads to NF-κB pathway activation and pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 up-regulation. Signal 2: involves different PAMPs, DAMPs, ATP, and particulates that promote lysosomal damage, mitochondrial ROS production or K+ efflux, resulting in NLRP3 inflammasome complex assembly and activation. The NLRP3 inflammasome interacts with pro-caspase-1 and promotes its conversion into caspase-1, which catalyzes the proteolytic cleavage of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18, resulting in active IL-1β and IL-18. IL-1β and IL-18 are released into the extracellular space. NLRP3: Nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3. TLR, Toll like receptor; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa Beta; pro-IL-1β, pro-interleukin 1 beta; pro-IL-18, pro-interleukin 18; PAMPs, pathogen-associated molecular patterns; DAMPs, danger-associated molecular patterns; and ROS, Reactive Oxygen Species. Some parts of this figure are from SMART Service Medical Art (Smart.servier.com).