Pyroptosis is an inflammasome-dependent form of programmed cell death that is mediated by caspases-1, -4, -5, and -11, and the gasdermin protein family. It is characterized by the rupture of cell membrane and the subsequent release of cell contents and interleukins, leading to inflammatory reaction and activation of the immune system. Recent studies have suggested that pyroptosis plays a role in the development of gastrointestinal tumors, impeding tumor generation and progression as well as providing a favorable microenvironment for tumor growth. In this review we outlined the current knowledge regarding the implications of pyroptosis in gastrointestinal cancers.
Keywords: caspases; gasdermin protein family; gastrointestinal neoplasms; inflammasomes; pyroptosis.
© 2024 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.