NLRP3 and lupus nephritis: In patients with SLE, studies have shown elevated circulating IL-18, IL-1β and IL-17, as well as hyperactive NLRP3 inflammasome and caspase-1 in peripheral blood monocyte cells and lupus nephritis biopsies, and this was correlated with serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and disease activity and even linked to lupus nephritis [161,162].