NLRP3 and pulmonary fibrosis: AngII can induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation in renal tubular epithelial cells (23), AngII induces pulmonary fibrosis which is attenuated by ACE2 (24), and NLRP3 inflammasome activation drives Ang II-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and vascular remodeling and hypertension (25, 26).