A key player in cell death moonlights as a mediator of inflammation

(Kanazawa University) Researchers from Kanazawa University have found that gasdermin D, a protein known to be involved in cell death, is crucial for maturation and release of interleukin-1α, an important inflammatory mediator. When the inflammasome is activated, caspase-1 cleaves gasdermin D into two parts: one of these parts travels to the membrane, where it forms a pore that allows calcium influx and activation of calpains, promoting interleukin-1α activation and exit from cells.

Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - June 18, 2021 Category: Biology Source Type: news