NLRP3 and pancreatitis: As an important component of the innate immune system, the NLRP3 inflammasome could be activated by endogenous molecules known as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as DNA, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) which are all associated with inflammation during the development of pancreatitis.