Inflammasomes are an intrinsic part of the immune system. Their main function is detecting the various endogenous and exogenous stimuli that the cell encounters, sensing whether the stimuli are sterile or infectious, and inducing appropriate cellular responses and effector mechanisms in response to the stimuli.

In response to cellular damage or infectious microbes, inflammasomes activate caspase-1 which will then induce the secretion and cleavage of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1? and IL18.