NLRP3 and familial dilated cardiomyopathy: We then analyzed the protein expression of NLRP3, pro-caspase-1, activated caspase-1, and activated IL-1β in the rat myocardium, and found that the expression levels of all these proteins were higher in DCM rats than in control rats (Figure 2; p < 0.05∼p < 0.01).