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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Detection of Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptotic Cell Death in Murine Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages
Published on: May 21, 2018
Molecular mechanisms of emerging inflammasome complexes and their activation and signaling in inflammation and
Abhimanu Pandey1, Zheyi Li1, Manjul Gautam1
1Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Abstract:
Inflammasomes are multi-protein complexes that assemble within the cytoplasm of mammalian cells in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), driving the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, and pyroptosis. The best-characterized inflammasome complexes are the NLRP3, NAIP-NLRC4, NLRP1, AIM2, and Pyrin canonical caspase-1-containing inflammasomes, and the caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome. Newer inflammasome sensor proteins have been identified, including NLRP6, NLRP7, NLRP9, NLRP10, NLRP11, NLRP12, CARD8, and MxA. These inflammasome sensors can sense PAMPs from bacteria, viruses and protozoa, or DAMPs in the form of mitochondrial damage, ROS, stress and heme. The mechanisms of action, physiological relevance, consequences in human diseases, and avenues for therapeutic intervention for these novel inflammasomes are beginning to be realized. Here, we discuss these emerging inflammasome complexes and their putative activation mechanisms, molecular and signaling pathways, and physiological roles in health and disease.
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