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. 2021 Nov 3;7(1):84–98. doi: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.08.006

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Inflammasome Activation—Components and Cascade

(A) Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). The PRRs consist of different domains: pyrin domains (PYD), NACHT, leucine-rich repeats (LRR), function-to-find domains (FIIND), caspase recruitment domains (CARD), a hematopoietic interferon-inducible nuclear (HIN) domain, and B-BOX and B30.2 domains. (B) Examples of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) (nonsterile) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) (sterile). (C) Danger and/or damage are sensed by PRRs. Activated PRRs recruit the adapter protein apoptosis associated speck-like protein (ASC), which binds and activates effector caspase-1. The active inflammasome cleaves and activates pro-forms of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and gasdermin. (D) The active N-terminal gasdermin D oligomerizes in the cell membrane and forms a pore that allows secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, together with osmotic swelling and pyroptotic cell death, which also promote inflammation. ATP = adenosine triphosphate; BIR = baculovirus IAP-repeat; Casp = caspase; dsDNA = double-stranded DNA; dsRNA = double-stranded RNA; MSU = monosodium urate; NACHT = NAIP, CIITA, HET-E, and TP-1; NLRP = NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain.