AIM, absent in melanoma; ASC, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Ac-YVAD-CHO, acetyl-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-CHO; Cytokine; DAMP, damage-associated molecular pattern; Esophageal Squamous Cell; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GERD; GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; IL, interleukin; IL1ß; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; NF-κB, nuclear factor-κB; NLRP3, NOD-like receptor protein 3; NOD, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat containing proteins; PAMP, pathogen-associated molecular pattern; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; PRRs, pattern-recognition receptors; Pyroptosis; ROS, reactive oxygen species; RT-PCR, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction; TLR, Toll-like receptor; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; mRNA, messenger RNA; pro, protein; qPCR, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction; siRNA, small interfering RNA