NLRP3 and ulcerative colitis: Other studies have demonstrated that the Q705K genetic variation in exon 3 of the NLRP3 gene is also a gain-of-function mutation that generates overactive NLRP3 inflammasomes and overproduction of IL-18, IL-1β and TNF-α, which are closely associated with atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis and abdominal aortic aneurysms39,40.