Therefore, unstable COPD-derived PBMCs were treated with pharmacological inhibitors for caspase-1, ac-Y-Vad (Y-Vad, 1 μg/ml) (20), for NLRP3, glybenclamide (Gly, 1 μM) (11, 20) and for caspase-8, z-IETD-fmk (IE, 0.5 μg/ml) (24, 25) together with combustion-generated UFPs. This evidence concerns the gene NLRP3 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.