Abstract:SUMMARY
Pyroptosis is a lytic form of programmed cell death mediated by the inflammatory caspases-1, -4, and -5. We recently discovered that small molecule inhibitors of the serine peptidases DPP8 and DPP9 (DPP8/9) induce pro-caspase-1 dependent pyroptosis in monocytes and macrophages. Notably, DPP8/9 inhibitors, unlike microbial agents, absolutely require caspase-1 to induce cell death. Therefore, DPP8/9 inhibitors are useful probes to study caspase-1 in cells. Here we show that, in the absence the pyroptosis… Show more