Figure 4.

The vicious cycle of pro-inflammatory effect of pyroptosis in DKD. Components of the diabetic milieu act on kidney cells to activate pyroptosis regulation pathway, releasing the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18. They result in renal infiltration by recruiting circulating inflammatory cells through chemokines and adhesion molecules, which amplifies the inflammatory process in the kidney, finally resulting in development and progression of DKD. AGEs, advanced glycosylation end products; ROS, reactive oxygen species; DKD, diabetic kidney disease.