NLRP3 and colitis: The results showed that SH did not impact the transcription of p38 and NLRP3, increased the expression of MEKK1 and significantly decreased the mRNA levels of ASC3 and caspase-1 in DSS-induced colitis mice (Fig 6), suggesting that SH may inhibit release of inflammatory cytokines through downregulating ASC3-caspase-1 pathway.