IL1B and otitis media with effusion: Both ATP and nigericin trigger a marked efflux of K+ from cells, resulting in a drop in [K+]i, which is a crucial step in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β secretion.29, 30 Remarkably, nigericin-induced K+ release from monocytes was prevented by OME (Figures 3g and h).