The role of pyroptosis in the occurrence and development of pregnancy-related diseases

Front Immunol. 2024 Sep 16:15:1400977. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1400977. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is crucial in the development of various diseases, including autoimmune diseases, atherosclerotic diseases, cancer, and pregnancy complications. In recent years, it has gained significant attention in national and international research due to its association with inflammatory immune overactivation and its involvement in pregnancy complications such as miscarriage and preeclampsia (PE). The mechanisms discussed include the canonical pyroptosis pathway of gasdermin activation and pore formation (caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis) and the non-canonical pyroptosis pathway (cysteoaspartic enzymes other than caspase-1). These pathways work on various cellular and factorial levels to influence normal pregnancy. This review aims to summarize and analyze the pyroptosis pathways associated with abnormal pregnancies and pregnancy complications. The objective is to enhance pregnancy outcomes by identifying various targets to prevent the onset of pyroptosis.

Keywords: GDM; cell death; preeclampsia; pregnancy complications; pyroptosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pre-Eclampsia / immunology
  • Pre-Eclampsia / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications* / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications* / metabolism
  • Pyroptosis*
  • Signal Transduction

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding for this work was provided by the Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology (grant numbers 20240305067YY, 3R219H273429 and 3R219G283429).