These observations were accompanied by reduced apoptosis induction in NLRP3 -/- mice with increased expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Sirt1, a NAD+-dependent class III histone deacetylase, which has been shown to protect from endothelial dysfunction, atherothrombosis, diet-induced obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver steatosis, and myocardial infarction [35]. The gene discussed is NLRP3; the disease is endothelial dysfunction.