Current status of GSDME research in malignant tumors / 国际肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Pyroptosis is a type of programmed cell death distincted from apoptosis and necrosis, which is accompanied by the lysis of cell membranes and the release of cell contents. Pyroptosis occurs as mediated by Gasdermin protein family and is dependent on the activity of caspase. GSDME is one of the most important members of the Gasdermin protein superfamily. GSDME-mediated pyroptosis relies on the activity of caspase-3. In recent years, with further research on pyroptosis, the mechanism of GSDME-induced pyroptosis is becoming clear. Numerous studies have shown that GSDME-mediated pyroptosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors, as well as chemotherapy resistance. However, GSDME-mediated pyroptosis has no specificity and can induce pyroptosis of normal cells in the body while inducing tumor cell pyroptosis, thus causing different degrees of damage to various organs of the body. Further study on the mechanism of GSDME-induced pyroptosis, the role of GSDME in malignant tumors and the adverse reactions of chemotherapy can provide new ideas for tumor monitoring, treatment and prognosis judgment.