NLRP3 and infection: To further assess the role of GEF-H1 in inflammasome-mediated host defense, we subjected WT and Arhgef2-/- BMDMs to Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) type 3 secretion system (T3SS)-independent Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. typhimurium) infection that drives activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome [30].