Features of regulation and function of inflammasomes in inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system

Chronic inflammation underlies the progression of many human systemic disorders, including a number of gynecological diseases such as endometriosis and chronic endometritis. Inflammasomes play a special role in the regulation of intercellular interactions under physiological and pathological conditions. The pathogenesis of chronic inflammation assumes a gradual course, accompanied by prolonged maintenance active state of inflammasomes due to the excessive accumulation of intracellular and extracellular endogenous molecules released from destroyed cells – DAMPs (damage-associated molecular patterns), their ineffective utilization by autophagy and stress-reducing cell systems, local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18), as well as ROS (reactive oxygen species), accumulation of macrophages and T-lymphocytes, tissue damage and the development of fibrosis. The proteins of the inflammasome complex can serve as targets for drugs, which will increase the efficiency of therapy for inflammation-associated diseases. This review presents the current data on the role of NLRP3-inflammasomes in immune regulation and the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of endometriosis and chronic endometritis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of inflammasome activation and the discovery of their effective inhibitors, as well as the assessment of the therapeutic potential in these pathologies, is an important direction of future research. Keywords: inflammasome, inflammation, innate immunity, endometriosis, chronic endometritis