The NLRP3 inflammasome and its role in acute myeloid leukemia onset and development

The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in cancer onset and progression. Its significance has been increasingly addressed in myeloid neoplasms. Such a shift marks a departure from the usual tumor-centered approach to a more comprehensive and integrated understanding of the interplay between myeloid tumors and their surroundings. On this note, we aimed to summarize, in this review, an up-to-date take on how a pro-inflammatory milieu influences clonal selection of genetically altered hematopoietic stem cells towards myeloid malignancies at the expense of their healthy counterpart; the role of NLRP3 inflammasome, a major component of the innate immunity and source of interleukin-1β, over acute myeloid leukemia development and performance; and, alongside post-translational modifications, how autophagy represents a major NLRP3 inflammasome regulator.