We propose a hypothesis for PD pathology (first described in Pike et al., in press and illustrated in Fig. 1) in which sustained activation of microglia in the SNpc by α-syn or other known stimuli induces K+ efflux through Kv1.3, with or without the help of other channels, to initiate NLRP3 inflammasome activation with resultant IL-1β secretion. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and Parkinson disease.