Pyroptosis is a recently described mechanism of programmed cell death mediated by proteins of the gasdermin family. Widely recognized signaling cascades include the classical, non-classical, caspase-3-dependent gasdermin E and caspase-8-dependent gasdermin D pathways. Additional pyroptotic pathways have been subsequently reported. With the rising prevalence of advanced age, the role of pyroptosis in the degenerative diseases of the elderly has attracted increased research attention. This article reviews the primary mechanisms of pyroptosis and summarizes progress in the research of degenerative diseases of the elderly such as presbycusis, age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, intervertebral disc degeneration, and osteoarthritis.

细胞焦亡是最近描述的一种由 gasdermin 家族蛋白介导的程序性细胞死亡机制。广泛认可的信号级联包括经典、非经典、caspase-3 依赖性 gasdermin E 和 caspase-8 依赖性 gasdermin D 通路。随后报道了其他的焦亡途径。随着高龄患病率的上升，细胞焦亡在老年人退行性疾病中的作用引起了越来越多的研究关注。本文综述了细胞焦亡的主要机制，总结了老年性退化性疾病如老年性耳聋、老年性黄斑变性、阿尔茨海默病、椎间盘退变、骨关节炎等的研究进展。