NLRP3 and autoimmune disease: The NLRP3 inflammasome is a key player in sterile inflammation, and is associated with a range of auto-inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.2 Tissue damage and the accumulation of damaged mitochondria increases mitochondrial ROS production, which, along with other signals activates NLRP3 and stimulates processing of IL-1β pre-cursers into the biologically active form.2,136,137 NLRP3 also regulates ROS production by mitochondria.138 The activation of capase-1 by NLRP3 activates IL-1β and IL-18 precursors,2,137 and also causes the secretion of IL-1α and fibroblast growth factor 22.