Blocking the inflammasome: A novel approach to treat uveitis. Issue 12 (December 2021) - Shome, Avik
Highlights: Limitations of current uveitis therapies highlight the need for targeting upstream mechanisms. Inflammasomes play an integral part of the innate immune system in uveitis. Inflammasomes in non-immune cells may be activated during the onset of uveitis. Inflammasome blockers may offer a novel treatment for non-infectious uveitis. Abstract: Uveitis is a complex ocular inflammatory disease often accompanied by bacterial or viral infections (infectious uveitis) or underlying autoimmune diseases (non-infectious uveitis). Treatment of the underlying infection along with corticosteroid-mediated suppression of acute inflammation usually resolves infectious uveitis. However, to develop more effective therapies for non-infectious uveitis and to better address acute inflammation in infectious disease, an improved understanding of the underlying inflammatory pathways is needed. In this review, we discuss the disease aetiology, preclinical in vitro and in vivo uveitis models, the role of inflammatory pathways, as well as current and future therapies. In particular, we highlight the involvement of the inflammasome in the development of non-infectious uveitis and how it could be a future target for effective treatment of the disease.