NLRP3 and arthritic joint disease: In this line, Guo C. et al. have recently shown an increased expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β in the synovial tissue of mice in which arthritis was induced, and which was reduced by treating animals with the selective inhibitor of NLRP3, MCC950 [48]; however, phase II clinical trials in RA where inhibitor MCC950 was used were interrupted because of its hepatoxicity [129].