Fig. 2

General pyroptosis mechanism – canonical and noncanonical pathway. Canonical pathway is centred around the inflammasome in this figure. Stimulation of this non-membranous organelle leads to the activation of Caspase-1, which then turns pro-IL-1β into IL-1β and cleaves gasdermins GSDME or GSDMD into N- and C-terminal ending. In membranes, the N‑terminal protein residues of GSDMs polymerise to form pores, causing water and electrolyte leakage and pyroptosis. IL-1β leaves the cell through these pores. Noncanonical pathway starts with LPS activating proCaspases − 4/-5/-10, which in their active forms are capable of cleaving gasdermins as well. During the activation of Caspase-3 the mechanism of cell death is decided by the expression level of GSDME. High levels of GSDME switch apoptosis to pyroptosis with oligomerised N‑GSDME pore formation [83]