In terms of patient groups at high risk of severe COVID-19, significantly increased NLRP3 expression and ssRNA-induced IL-1β generation has been reported for monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages isolated from T2D patients and obese subjects, respectively (63, 70, 71), suggesting potential exaggeration of inflammasome-mediated immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in these cohorts. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is COVID-19.