NLRP3 and infection: In addition to the potential protective function against infection, miR-223 is also involved in the activation of nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor containing a pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which promotes the maturation of inflammatory cytokines IL-1b and IL-18 and induces cell pyroptosis.32,33 miR-223 inhibited NLRP3 expression through a conserved binding site within the 3′-UTR and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activity.33