According to the latest evidence, the synergistic effect of elevated pentaxin 3 (PTX3) and ligand C1q in the plasma of patients with RA activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in CD14+ monocytes to cause caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and TNF-α) excretion, the degree of which was consistent with disease activity. Here, TNF is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.