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Updated: Jun 23, 2025

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Detection of Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptotic Cell Death in Murine Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages
Published on: May 21, 2018
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Inflammasome-independent pyroptosis
1Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
Current Opinion in Immunology
|June 14, 2024
Summary
Gasdermins trigger pyroptosis, a cell death releasing immune signals. This review explores inflammasome-independent pathways activating gasdermins in health and disease.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Gasdermins are pore-forming proteins inducing pyroptosis, an inflammatory cell death.
- Pyroptosis releases alarmins like ATP and HMGB1, crucial for immune responses.
- Gasdermin D activation is classically linked to inflammasomes in myeloid cells and epithelia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review inflammasome-independent pyroptosis pathways.
- To discuss the roles of gasdermins beyond inflammasome activation.
- To explore gasdermin function in normal physiology and disease.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on gasdermin activation.
- Analysis of inflammasome-independent proteolytic pathways.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on gasdermin roles.
Main Results:
- Gasdermin D and other gasdermins can be activated independently of inflammasomes.
- Emerging pathways demonstrate non-canonical activation mechanisms.
- These pathways contribute to cellular processes in health and disease.
Conclusions:
- Inflammasome-independent pyroptosis is a significant area of research.
- Understanding these pathways is vital for comprehending immune regulation and pathology.
- Further investigation is needed to fully elucidate gasdermin functions.
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