Signaling by ROS drives inflammasome activation

Abstract Inflammasomes are innate immune signaling pathways that sense pathogens and injury to direct the proteolytic maturation of inflammatory cytokines such as IL‐1β and IL‐18. Among inflammasomes, the NLRP3/NALP3 inflammasome is the most studied. However, little is known on the molecular mechanisms that mediate its assembly and activation. Recent findings suggest that ROS are produced by NLRP3/NALP3 activators and are essential secondary messengers signaling NLRP3/NALP3 inflammasome activation.