NLRP3 and intervertebral disk degenerative disorder: Additional experimentation in our study unveiled that NLRP3 inflammasome was activated and pyroptosis-related markers IL-18, IL-1β, and gasdermin-D were all enhanced in NP tissues of the STZ-induced T1DM rats, emphasizing that NLRP3 inflammasome activation leads to enhanced pyroptosis of NPCs in IDD.