NLRP3 inflammasome is a multi-protein complex that is critical for the activation of caspases-1, maturation, and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. NLRP3 has three parts: an amino-terminal pyrin domain (PYD), a central nucleotide-binding domain (NBD), and a C-terminal leucinerich repeat (LRR). The interactions among NLRP3, the adapter apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and pro-caspase-1 are closely associated with the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Under the pathological conditions, the ...