The role of inflammasome in axon pruning
Axon pruning, mostly seen in developing brain, require selective degeneration of axons.
Axon pruning requires many apoptotic proteins and their pathways overlap but are distinct. Both axon pruning and apoptosis pathways require key apoptotic proteins (Bax, Caspase-9, Caspase-3). Interestingly, axon pruning does not require Apaf-1, a key member of the apoptosome complex.
How caspases are activated in an apoptosome-independent manner during axon pruning is unknown.
The authors show that inflammasome proteins Caspase-1 and NLRP1b are required for axon pruning in vitro.
NLRP1b deficiency results in axon pruning defects in vivo.
https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44319-025-00402-y
