Similarly, heme (Dutra et al., 2014) and iron (Mori et al., 2001) can both generate mitochondrial ROS, activate NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway, and lead to BBB hyperpermeability and cerebral edema, specifically on ECs, which can be alleviated by iron chelator deferoxamine (Lee et al., 2010). The gene discussed is CASP1; the disease is brain edema.