Infection of macrophages by mpox virus activates inflammasome and cell death, informing multitarget therapeutic strategies.

MPXV infection activates inflammasomes and causes cell death in macrophages, with combined therapy suppressing viral replication and inflammation across multiple strains.

• Why it matters: Understanding how MPXV triggers immune responses and cell death is crucial for developing effective treatments for severe mpox, which causes significant immunopathology.
• What they did: The study examined clinical samples and infected human macrophages with MPXV, analyzing inflammasome activation, cell death pathways, and testing anti-inflammatory drugs like flufenamic acid combined with antivirals.
• The result: Findings show that inflammasome activation and cell death contribute to disease severity, and combined therapy reduces inflammation, cell death, and viral replication, offering promising multitarget strategies for managing severe mpox.