NLRP3 and triple-A syndrome: AA patients had elevated levels of NLRP3 mRNA in the aorta.228 It was also shown that high levels of plasma IL-1β were observed in individuals who were homozygous for the common C allele of NLRP3 rs35829419, suggesting that genovariation of the NLRP3 inflammasome may play an important role in the progression of AAA.229,230 Furthermore, direct knockdown of the NLRP3 inflammasome component was also able to significantly reduce the incidence and severity of AAA while decreasing the inflammatory response, including IL-1β secretion, MMP activation, and elastic lamina degradation.76