To find out whether NLRP3 levels in serum reflects its liver activity in patients with hepatitis C virus-related liver disease (n = 34), Spearman’s rank correlation was performed and showed that serum NLRP3 levels were positively correlated with hepatic NLRP3 expression (r = 0.749, P < 0.001) (Fig. 3B) and CASP1 expression (r = 0.557, P = 0.001) (Fig. 3C). The gene discussed is NLRP3; the disease is liver disorder.