The inflammasome regulates and activates the innate immune response through the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin −1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin −18 (IL-18) and is involved in a variety of lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)11. The gene discussed is IL18; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.