[Pyroptosis and stroke]

Pyroptosis is a form of inflammatory programmed cell death activated by caspase-1 and caspase-4/5/11, and involves in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and nervous system diseases. Pyroptosis is mediated by canonical inflammasome pathway and non-canonical inflammasome pathway. The canonical inflammasome pathway is activated in stroke and aggravates brain injury. Inhibition of inflammasome, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 ameliorates brain injury. These studies indicate that canonical inflammasome pathway contributes to post-stroke brain injury, therefore, pyroptosis has become a potential therapeutic target for preventing excessive cell death during stroke. We reviewed the relationship between pyroptosis and stroke to provide some perspectives on future researches in this field.