NLRP3 and chronic kidney disease: In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from CKD and HD patients, NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD domain (ASC), inflammasome components (e.g., CASP-1), and the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 have been found to be abundantly expressed [35].