Activated CASP-1 in turn, cleaves and activates pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), large amounts of which are known to cause microglial activation and macrophage recruitment from the periphery, and ultimately photoreceptor cell death, characteristic features of AMD pathogenesis3,8,12–16. The gene discussed is CASP1; the disease is age-related macular degeneration.