Remarkably, neither ASC nor NLRP3 deficiency influenced systemic inflammation: no differences were found in any of the cytokine levels measured when comparing WT with Asc−/− or Nlrp3−/− mice, except for a slight increase in IL-12 in Asc−/− mice 5 days post-infection which could be a compensation for the lack of IL-18 observed in these mice. The gene discussed is IL18; the disease is infection.