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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Author Spotlight: THP-1 Macrophage Response to LPS/ATP — Unveiling the Pyroptosis, Apoptosis, and Necroptosis Spectrum
Published on: May 3, 2024
Cell death and cell lysis are separable events during pyroptosis
Lucian DiPeso1, Daisy X Ji1, Russell E Vance1,2
1Division of Immunology & Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, and Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, involves distinct stages. This study reveals that cell death can occur independently of cell lysis, offering new insights into inflammasome activation control.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Inflammasome activation triggers pyroptosis, a lytic programmed cell death pathway.
- The detailed temporal dynamics of pyroptosis's terminal phases remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the kinetics of pyroptosis in individual murine macrophages.
- To investigate the relationship between cell death and cell lysis during pyroptosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized time-lapse fluorescence imaging for real-time observation of pyroptosis.
- Analyzed individual murine macrophage behavior and cellular events.
Main Results:
- Observed distinct sequential stages of cell death and subsequent cell lysis.
- Demonstrated that gasdermin D pore formation leads to membrane permeability, cell movement cessation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and swelling.
- Showed these events (death) can be decoupled from complete cell lysis.
Conclusions:
- Proposed a model where pyroptosis-induced cell death can precede or occur independently of cell lysis.
- Suggests this uncoupling mechanism may allow for regulated release of cytosolic contents during inflammasome activation.
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