Cell death in uveitis: pyroptosis, ferroptosis, apoptosis, and beyond

Uveitis is a group of diseases characterized by intraocular inflammation, closely associated with infectious, autoimmune, genetic, or environmental factors. Cell death, a critical biological process involved in development, the maintenance of homeostasis, and the pathogenesis of disease, serves as both a trigger for inflammation and a direct cause of tissue damage in uveitis. This review comprehensively summarized the roles of various forms of cell death in the pathogenesis of uveitis, providing a novel theoretical framework for advancing the understanding of its underlying mechanisms, subtype classification, prognosis evaluation, and biomarker development. Furthermore, we analyzed the efficacy and potential applications of therapeutic strategies targeting these cell death pathways, thereby laying a foundation for exploring personalized combination therapies for uveitis.