GSDMD

GSDMD was initially identified in mouse macrophages and serves as a key regulator of cell death. Its activation occurs via the inflammasome's classical or non-classical pathways, culminating in the formation of pores in the cell membrane that trigger inflammatory cell death, also known as pyroptosis. During pyroptosis, GSDMD is cleaved by inflammatory caspases, liberating the active amino-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT). This fragment migrates to the cytoplasmic membrane, undergoes a conformational shift and oligomerization, and forms a pore structure that inserts into the membrane, causing the release of cellular contents and initiating an inflammatory response. GSDMD's role in the host's immune response to pathogens is pivotal, and its involvement in cell apoptosis is intricately linked to a myriad of diseases, such as cardiovascular conditions, infections, cancers, and autoimmune disorders, thereby holding significant biological process.