IL18 and inflammatory bowel disease: The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, composed by NLRP3 oligomers and apoptosis-associated speck-like (ASC) adapter protein, is a key innate immune pathway through triggering the activation of caspase-1, leading to the processing of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and IL-18, as well as inducing of pyroptosis and malignant transformation [10, 11], and have been proved to take part in the genesis and development of several inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [12], pancreatitis [13], and may also increase the risk of cancer [14, 15].