NLRP3 and viral infectious disease: The Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is activated when viral infection-associated pathogens are recognized by the innate immune system.252,253 Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway leads to release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL18 and IL1β, which mediate cytokine release and pyroptosis during lung injury and ARDS.254–256 Rodrigues et al. demonstrated that the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in COVID-19 patients.