In primary cell and animal study, NLRP12 is involved in the caspase 1-mediating production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-18) and is crucial for the host defense against Yersinia pestis infection; thereby, deficiency of NLRP12 causes the susceptibility to Yersinia pestis infection as it occurred in the IL-18 deficient mice [202]. This evidence concerns the gene CASP1 and plague.