NLRP3 and colitis: Previous studies indicated that the expressions of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 were remarkably elevated in colonic tissues of colitis both in patients and in animal models; meanwhile, the disease severities of colitis in NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 knockout mice tended to be much relieved in comparison with the wild-type mice, suggesting that NLRP3 inflammasome pathway exerted a great effect on the development and progression of colitis.