IL18 and ischemic stroke: Conversely, knockout of the NLRP3 gene or pharmacological inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome using MCC950 or intravenous immunoglobulin G can attenuate the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome proteins and can also downregulate IL‐1β, IL‐18 and proapoptotic protein cleaved caspase‐3, thus largely avoiding neuronal deterioration and preserving blood‐brain barrier permeability and cerebral function in ischaemic stroke models.5, 6, 7