CASP1 and infection: Although, Mtb induces anti‐apoptotic signals during the latent phase of infection, there are various reports showing Mtb‐infected macrophages to undergo apoptosis as their early defense mechanism against infection, thereby increasing the levels of pro‐apoptotic proteins like caspase 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8 (Duan et al, 2002; Derrick & Morris, 2007; Behar et al, 2011; Aguiló et al, 2014).