Figure 1.

The recognition of DAMPs and PAMPs induces a change in the NLRP3 protein structure and the exposure of its PYD domain to bind to the PYD of ASC, thus forming a PYD–PYD interaction. Then, ASC recruits the cysteine protease pro-caspase-1 to assemble the inflammasome complex via interacting with CARD. Pro-caspase-1 is activated by self-cleavage to form active caspase-1. Activated caspase-1 dissociates GSDMD and releases its N-terminal domain, which interacts with the cell membrane to produce pores and induce “pyroptosis”. In addition, caspase-1 can also induce the transformation of IL-1β and IL-18 precursors into mature IL-1β and IL-18 to induce inflammatory responses.