Skip to main content
. 2021 Mar 18;26(6):1704. doi: 10.3390/molecules26061704

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Inflammasome activation. (1) Specific PAMPs and DAMPs are able to induce both the expression and oligomerization of the different inflammasome sensor proteins. (2) The adaptor ASC protein oligomerizes within the inflammasome and recruits pro-caspase-1, favoring caspase-1 autoactivation. (3) Active caspase-1 cleaves the precursors of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, as well as the protein GSDMD. The N-terminal portion of GSDMD binds and produce pores in the plasma membrane. (4) The active pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, as well as diverse intracellular content, is released through GSDMD pores. Increasing formation of GSDMD pores produces cell swelling and pyroptotic cell death.