The hypothesis that inflammation has a central role in diabetic retinopathy received a strong support by the work of Chaurasia and colleagues, showing that Akimba mice, a well-established model of diabetes, have increased intra-retina levels of the inflammasome constituents NOD-like receptor pyrine-containing 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and caspase-1, as well as IL-1β and pro-angiogenic markers, such as VEGF, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) compared to WT mice [26]. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is diabetes mellitus.