Fig. 8: Schematic illustrating the proposed mechanism by which danger signals from necrotic TECs activate NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages.

We propose that danger signals from necrotic TECs can bind with TLR2 in macrophages, which upregulates caspase-5 and trigger Panx1 cleavage. Intracellular ATP released from macrophages through Panx1 channel can stimulate P2RX7 and cause the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome to produce IL-1β.