NLRP3 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Recently, studies have revealed the significance of the NLRP3 inflammasome in innate and adaptive immune responses, and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway has been implicated in many autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and RA [45, 46].