Gasdermin D pores hitch a ride: extracellular vesicles spread pyroptosis

Abstract

Pyroptosis is a highly immunogenic cell death due to the release of damage-associated molecular patterns and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18. A recent study published in Cell by Wright and colleagues uncovered a novel mechanism in which extracellular vesicles released from pyroptotic cells serve as carriers of functional gasdermin D pores to propagate pyroptosis to bystander cells, providing valuable insights into the process of bystander cell death and opening up potential therapeutic avenues.