Noncanonical inflammasomes: New insights into their roles in inflammation and immunopathology

Inflammasomes function as cytoplasmic multiprotein oligomers that initiate inflammatory signaling cascades upon recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). While the immunopathogenic roles of canonical inflammasomes are well-established, the noncanonical inflammasome pathway has emerged as a distinct entity characterized by unique ligand sensing and structural assembly. Despite its more recent characterization, accumulating evidence emphasizes the critical contribution of noncanonical inflammasome-driven signaling to immune dysregulation and disease pathology. Consequently, this review discusses current insights into the regulatory mechanisms of noncanonical inflammasomes, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets for associated human diseases.