Pleiotropic effects of inflammasome modulation in chronic gout and associated comorbidities: potential therapeutic implications

Gout and hyperuricemia are among the most common inflammatory–metabolic disorders of mankind. Evidence gathered in recent years clearly identifies monosodium urate crystals as exerting a powerful inflammatory stimulus through activation of the inflammasome. Dysregulation of inflammasome function has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoinflammatory disorders – so-called inflammasomopathies, including gout, Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Activation of the inflammasome results in the release of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-1, which has been shown to significantly contribute to human disease, and its inhibition has proven of benefit for certain autoinflammatory disorders. The potential therapeutic benefit of inflammasome inhibition with the use of biologic agents used alone or in combination for the therapy of gout is discussed.