Pyroptosis in Skeleton Diseases: A Potential Therapeutic Target Based on Inflammatory Cell Death

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Aug 21;25(16):9068. doi: 10.3390/ijms25169068.

Abstract

Skeletal disorders, including fractures, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and spinal degenerative conditions, along with associated spinal cord injuries, significantly impair daily life and impose a substantial burden. Many of these conditions are notably linked to inflammation, with some classified as inflammatory diseases. Pyroptosis, a newly recognized form of inflammatory cell death, is primarily triggered by inflammasomes and executed by caspases, leading to inflammation and cell death through gasdermin proteins. Emerging research underscores the pivotal role of pyroptosis in skeletal disorders. This review explores the pyroptosis signaling pathways and their involvement in skeletal diseases, the modulation of pyroptosis by other signals in these conditions, and the current evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of targeting pyroptosis in treating skeletal disorders, aiming to offer novel insights for their management.

Keywords: cell death; inflammation; pyroptosis; skeleton diseases; treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Diseases / metabolism
  • Bone Diseases / pathology
  • Bone Diseases / therapy
  • Cell Death
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes* / metabolism
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Pyroptosis* / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Inflammasomes

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the National Research Foundation of KOREA (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. 2021R1G1A1094571) and Biomedical Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University Hospital (No. CUH2021-0008).