Molecular Regulation of Pyroptosis in Alzheimer's Disease: Linking Neuroinflammation, Cell Death, and Therapeutic...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by profound cognitive decline, wherein chronic neuroinflammation plays a pivotal pathogenic role. Central to this inflammatory milieu is pyroptosis, a highly inflammatory form of programmed lytic cell death mediated by gasdermin proteins. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth synthesis of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying pyroptosis in AD. We detail the distinct roles of microglia as primary initiators responding to amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau aggregates, alongside the specific vulnerabilities of neurons facing oxidative stress, astrocytes impacting metabolic support, and endothelial cells whose pyroptotic death contributes directly to blood-brain barrier disruption. At the molecular level, the priming and activation of the NLRP3 and NLRP1 inflammasomes by diverse triggers, including classical markers like Aβ, environmental neurotoxicants and metabolic stressors, converge on caspase-1 and caspase-8 activation. This cascade culminates in gasdermin D (GSDMD) and gasdermin E (GSDME) pore formation, leading to cellular lysis and the massive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18. Furthermore, this paper explores the emerging and critical concept of PANoptosis, highlighting the intricate crosstalk between pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis within PANoptosome complexes triggered by mitochondrial dysfunction. We evaluate current and prospective therapeutic strategies, ranging from multi-target natural and traditional herbal remedies to advanced nanomedicine, synthetic small molecules, and epigenetic gene therapies. By integrating insights from blood-based pyroptosis-associated molecular signatures and advanced targeted drug delivery systems, we emphasize the critical need for personalized, multi-targeted approaches to successfully harness pyroptosis modulation in the clinical management and treatment of AD.