NLRP3 and inflammatory bowel disease: However, the exact role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in IBD is not clear (12), as different studies report conflicting results: genetic polymorphisms decreasing NLRP3 expression in patients were linked to higher susceptibility towards CD (13), while Nlrp3 knockout mice developed less severe DSS-induced colitis compared to the wild type (WT) (14).