NLRP3 and necrotizing enterocolitis: As expected, production of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and mature IL-1β in intestinal tissues was almost completely blocked upon MCC950 treatment (Fig. 3c), and importantly, the mRNA levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, another two pivotal inflammatory cytokines commonly increased during NEC, were also reduced potently (Fig. 3d).