NLRP3 and renal fibrosis: Previous studies have shown that high glucose level significantly induces the expression of pyroptosis markers, including NLRP3, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, IL-1β, and pro-IL-1β, in GMCs [47, 48], whereas inhibiting NLRP3 with MCC950 suppresses NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β activation and decreases renal fibrosis [32].