The Inflammasome is a multiprotein complex consisting of caspase 1, PYCARD, a NALP and sometimes caspase 5 or caspase 11. The exact composition of an inflammasome depends on the activator which initiates inflammasome assembly i.e. dsRNA will trigger one inflammasome composition whereas asbestos will assembly a different variant. The inflammasome promotes the maturation of inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1-β and interleukin 18.

The inflammasome is responsible for activation of inflammatory processes, and has been shown to induce cell pyroptosis, a process of programmed cell death distinct from apoptosis .

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