Caspase‐1‐induced pyroptotic cell death

Programmed cell death is a necessary part of development and tissue homeostasis enabling the removal of unwanted cells. In the setting of infectious disease, cells that have been commandeered by microbial pathogens become detrimental to the host. When macrophages and dendritic cells are compromised in this way, they can be lysed by pyroptosis, a cell death mechanism that is distinct from apoptosis and oncosis/necrosis. Pyroptosis is triggered by Caspase-1 after its activation by various inflammasomes and results in lysis of the affected cell. Both pyroptosis and apoptosis are programmed cell death mechanisms but are dependent on different caspases, unlike oncosis. Similar to oncosis and unlike apoptosis,…