Enterococcus faecalis activates caspase-1 leading to increased interleukin-1 beta secretion in macrophages.

Introduction: Recent studies of inflammasome activation have focused on the pathogenesis of diverse inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Inflammasome activation results in caspase-1 activation, which is required for processing of prointerleukin (IL)-1 beta to its secreted form as well as a proinflammatory cell death (ie, pyroptosis). The purpose of this study was to analyze whether Enterococcus faecalis associated with endodontic infection induces inflammasome activation.