Metformin, as the first-line medication for the treatment of diabetes, inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β production in cultured and alveolar macrophages, thus attenuating LPS and SARS-CoV-2-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (Xian et al., 2021). The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.