Role of Pyroptosis in Diabetic Retinopathy and Its Therapeutic Implications

Abstract

Pyro ptosis has recently been established as a term of programmed-inflammatory cell death. Pyro ptosis is mainly divided into two molecular signaling pathways, including caspase-1-dependent canonical and caspase-4/5/11-dependent non-canonical inflammasome pathways. Extensive investigations have reported inflammasome activation facilitates the maturation and secretion of the inflammatory factors interleukin-1β/18 (IL-1β/18), cleavage of gasdermin D (GSDMD), and leading to the stimulation of pyro ptosis-mediated cell death. Furthermore, accumulating studies report NLRP3 inflammasome activation plays a significant role in triggering the pyro ptosis-mediated cell death and promotes the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Our current review elaborates on the molecular mechanisms of pyro ptosis-signaling pathways and their potential roles in the pathogenesis and impact of DR development. We also emphasize several investigational molecules regulating key steps in pyroptotic-cell death to create new comprehensions and findings to explore the pathogenesis of DR advancement. Our narrative review concisely suggests these potential pharmacological agents could be promising therapies to treat and manage DR in the future.