The formation of membrane pores by cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D (GSDMD-NT) results in the release of cytokines and inflammatory cell death, known as pyroptosis. Blocking GSDMD-NT pores is an attractive and promising strategy for mitigating inflammation. Here we demonstrate that SK56, an artificial intelligence-screened peptide, effectively obstructs GSDMD-NT pores and inhibits pyroptosis and cytokine release in macrophages and human peripheral blood leukocyte-induced pyroptosis. SK56 prevents septic death induced by lipopolysaccharide or cecal ligation and puncture surgery in mice. SK56 does not influence cleavage of interleukin-1β or GSDMD. Instead, SK56 inhibits the release of cytokines from pyroptotic macrophages, mitigates the activation of primary mouse dendritic cells triggered by incubation with pyroptotic cytomembranes and prevents widespread cell death of human alveolar organoids in an organoid-macrophage coculture model. SK56 blocks GSDMD-NT pores on lipid-bilayer nanoparticles and enters pyroptotic macrophages to inhibit mitochondrial damage. SK56 presents new therapeutic possibilities for counteracting inflammation, which is implicated in numerous diseases.
© 2025. The Author(s).