Abstract: Pyroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death mediated by the caspase family. The mechanism is that caspase-1 is activated by different inflammasomes, and forms pores in cell membrane after cleavage of substrate gasdermin D(GSDMD), and releases pro-inflammatory factors, leading to immune inflammatory response. Recent studies have shown that pyroptosis plays an important role in the formation of renal calculi induced by calcium oxalate, which is mainly manifested by oxidative stress damage of renal tubular epithelial cells and increase of calcium oxalate crystal adhesion. This review provided an overview of the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis and research progress in renal tubular epithelial cell injury and calcium oxalate stone formation, providing reference for pathogenesis of kidney stones in the future.

Key words: pyroptosis, inflammasome, renal tubular epithelial cells, calcium oxalate stones