NLRP3 and age-related macular degeneration: The notion that NLRP3 is involved in AMD was first described in 2012 when Doyle et al., suggested that components of sub-RPE drusen deposits from AMD patients could activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and caspase-1 in peripheral myeloid and mononuclear cells, leading to secretion of mature IL-1β and IL-18.