Extracellular ATP is a DAMP that is an important inducer of inflammasomes, and it promotes a rapid increase of IL-1β secretion by human and murine neutrophils via the P2X7 receptor-NLRP3 inflammasome axis, with neutrophils being the predominant source of IL-1β processed by the NLRP3 inflammasome in a murine model of acute corneal infection by S. pneumoniae26. This evidence concerns the gene P2RX7 and corneal infection.