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The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...

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The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Detection of Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptotic Cell Death in Murine Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages

Detection of Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptotic Cell Death in Murine Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages

Published on: May 21, 2018

Inflammasomes.

Natália Ketelut-Carneiro¹, Katherine A Fitzgerald¹

¹Program in Innate Immunity, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.

Current Biology : CB

|June 24, 2020

Summary

This review covers inflammasomes, which are protein complexes crucial for immunity. Understanding inflammasome activation and function is key to developing treatments for inflammatory diseases and infections.

Area of Science:

Immunology
Molecular Biology
Cellular Biology

Background:

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes central to innate immunity.
They play a critical role in host defense against pathogens and in inflammatory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive overview of inflammasome biology.
To discuss the composition, assembly, and activation mechanisms of inflammasomes.
To explore the effector functions and involvement of inflammasomes in disease.

Main Methods:

Literature review and synthesis of existing research on inflammasomes.

Main Results:

Detailed explanation of inflammasome components and their interactions.

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Activation and Measurement of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity Using IL-1β in Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells

Activation and Measurement of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity Using IL-1β in Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells

Published on: May 22, 2014

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Last Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Detection of Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptotic Cell Death in Murine Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages

Detection of Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptotic Cell Death in Murine Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages

Published on: May 21, 2018

Visualization of Inflammatory Caspases Induced Proximity in Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

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Published on: April 6, 2022

Activation and Measurement of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity Using IL-1β in Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells

Activation and Measurement of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity Using IL-1β in Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells

Published on: May 22, 2014

Elucidation of inflammasome activation pathways.

Discussion of inflammasome-mediated inflammatory responses and their pathological implications.

Conclusions:

Inflammasomes are critical regulators of inflammation and immunity.
Dysregulation of inflammasome pathways contributes to various inflammatory diseases.
Targeting inflammasomes holds therapeutic potential for infectious and inflammatory disorders.