Gasdermin C (GSDMC)

Gasdermin C is a member of the gasdermin family of pore-forming proteins, which regulate lytic programmed cell death pathways such as pyroptosis. Like its paralogs, GSDMC can mediate membrane pore formation after being activated by proteolytic cleavage, leading to cell swelling, membrane rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory intracellular contents. While most attention has focused on gasdermin D, recent studies have shown that gasdermin C participates in the regulation of inflammation, cell differentiation, and cancer progression. GSDMC-mediated cell death is triggered by caspases or granzymes following immune activation or cellular stress. Modulation of gasdermin C activity holds therapeutic promise in cancer and inflammatory diseases, but specific inhibitory drugs remain in preclinical development. Note: Most cited literature to date provides deeper characterization of gasdermin D than gasdermin C, so some functional inferences are based on established family similarities. No approved drugs specifically target gasdermin C as of the latest scientific reports.

Other names

GSDMCHematopoietic-specific gene 1 (HINCT1)

Drugs or agents that would interact with gasdermin C (in analogy to gasdermin D) might: inhibit the pore formation during pyroptosis; modulate cleavage by caspases or granzymes; interfere with membrane binding or oligomerization.