Inflammasomes are cytoplasmic organelles that stimulate inflammation upon cellular detection of infectious or non-infectious stress. While much foundational work has focused on the infection-associated aspects of inflammasome activities, recent studies have highlighted the role of inflammasomes in non-infectious cellular and organismal functions. Herein, we discuss the evolution of inflammasome components and highlight characteristics that permit inflammasome regulation of physiologic processes. We focus on emerging data that highlight the importance of inflammasome proteins in the regulation of reproduction, development, and malignancy. A framework is proposed to contextualize these findings.

Colitis-associated colorectal cancer

Caspase activation and recruitment domain

Death related ICE-like caspase

Dextran sodium sulfate

Extracellular signal-related kinases

Heterokaryon incompatibility E

Intestinal epithelial cell

Major histocompatibility complex

Neuronal apoptosis inhibitor protein

Nucleotide-binding Apaf1 Resistance CED4

Nuclear factor Kappa B

Nucleotide-binding domain leucine rich repeat containing

NLR family CARD domain containing

NLR family Pyrin domain containing

Pattern recognition receptor

Post-translational modification

Reactive oxygen species

TANK-binding kinase 1

Toll/Interleukin-1 receptor

Telomerase associated protein 1

Inflammasome

Innate immunity

NLRs

Interleukin-1

Caspase

Reproduction

Development

Malignancy

Cancer

Inflammation

Pyroptosis

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