NLRP3 and familial dilated cardiomyopathy: Compared with DCM mice, the protein levels of NLRP3 and GSDMD-N/GSDMD were decreased in the hearts of DCM + sh-STING mice, which was accompanied by decreased mRNA levels of NLRP3, TNF-α, IFN-β, IL-1β, and IL-18 (Fig. 3a, b).