Inflammatory caspase. Essential effector of NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent CASP1 activation and IL1B and IL18 secretion in response to non-canonical activators, such as UVB radiation, cholera enterotoxin subunit B and cytosolic LPS. Independently of NLRP3 inflammasome and CASP1, promotes pyroptosis, through GSDMD cleavage and activation, and IL1A, IL18 and HMGB1 release in response to non-canonical inflammasome activators. Plays a crucial role in the restriction of Salmonella typhimurium replication in colonic epithelial cells during infection. In later stages of the infection, LPS from cytosolic Salmonella triggers CASP4 activation, which ultimately results in pyroptosis of infected cells and their extrusion into the gut lumen, as well as in IL18 secretion. Pyroptosis limits bacterial replication, while cytokine secretion promotes the recruitment and activation of immune cells and triggers mucosal inflammation.