Regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and macrophage pyroptosis by the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in a mouse model of acute lung injury

Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is characterized by uncontrolled progressive lung inflammation. Macrophages serve a key role in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS. Macrophage pyroptosis is a process of cell death releasing the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‑1β and IL‑18. It was hypothesized that macrophage pyroptosis may partially account for the uncontrolled lung inflammation of ALI/ARDS. In the...