**5. Conclusions**

There is consistent evidence for activation of inflammasomes in physiological inflammatory processes during pregnancy. Inflammasomes are implicated in both normal physiological and in the pathophysiological processes that occur in response to inflammatory milieu throughout gestation. This suggests that the placenta is immunologically functional and able to generate specific and diverse innate immune-like responses through the expression of specific components of inflammasomes. However, the type of response is highly dependent upon the timing of gestation, as well as the type of stimuli, the expression and activation of status of the specific type of receptors, and the downstream signaling pathways that are altered in response to the stimuli. Furthermore, it is in the pathological inflammatory processes as seen in PE, that premature activation of inflammasomes as a consequence of placental ischemia (Figure 4) could contribute to increased fibrosis resulting in end organ damage in the heart, liver, and kidneys. Therefore, research findings in these areas will be critical for developing targeted therapies for the prevention of poor pregnancy outcomes of PE a ffected pregnancies.

**Figure 4.** Summarizes the central role of inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Premature activation of inflammasomes following placental ischemia in preeclampsia affected pregnancies may lead to changes in vascular structure and function and enhanced fibrosis contributing to end stage organ failure.

**Author Contributions:** This review was conceptualized by P.M. in collaboration with A.A.P. and C.S.S.; P.M. and A.A.P. wrote the original draft and was extensively reviewed by C.S.S.; E.D. reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
