Immunoblotting data demonstrated that the NLRP3 inflammasome associated proteins (NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase-1, cleaved IL-1β) were also increased in wild-type AKI kidneys, but were downregulated in AKI kidneys with P2X7 receptor gene knockout (Fig. 4B). Here, NLRP3 is linked to acute kidney injury.