NLRP3 and infectious disease: Pyroptosis, another form of programmed cell death, is involved in many diseases, such as infectious diseases, nervous system diseases, and atherosclerotic diseases.36 In addition, the levels of activated Caspase-1 and IL-18 products are reported to be increased in the model of hypoxic PH, suggesting that pyroptosis may occur in PH.35 Our study proved that hypoxia induces increases in the protein and mRNA expression levels of Caspase-1, NLRP3, ASC, IL-18, and IL-1β.