[22] Tarallo et al demonstrated increased levels of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 in human eyes containing geographic atrophy. They also showed that inhibition of components of the NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1), in RPE, prevented RPE degeneration and atrophy induced by DICER1 loss or Alu RNA exposure. The pathway towards geographic atrophy, a key feature of dry AMD, involved MyD88 and IL-18. [23] Since A2E also activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, it will be interesting in the future to determine if A2E also has any direct effects on the processing of Alu RNA. The gene discussed is CASP1; the disease is dry age related macular degeneration.