Figure 2.

Signaling pathway of NLRP3 inflammasome and the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in autoimmune diseases. The priming stage: the binding of cytokines or PAMPs to its receptors can activate NF-κB signaling pathway, which upregulates transcription of NLRP3, pro-IL-1β, and pro-IL-18. The activation stage: this stage is stimulated by PAMPs and DAMPs. The activating signals, including K⁺ efflux, Ca²⁺flux, Cl⁻ efflux, mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS production, lysosomal disruption, and NEK7 promote oligomerization of NLRP3, ASC, and pro-caspase-1 to format NLRP3 inflammasome complex. The active caspase-1 can cleave proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, and promote pyroptosis mediated by Gasdermin D. The role of NLRP3 inflammasome in autoimmune diseases: inflammation promoted by cytokines IL-1β and IL-18; adaptive immune dysfunction caused by cytokines, such as proliferation and differentiation of T cells; pyroptosis, which can cause histiocytic death such as insulin β-cells.