NLRP3 and gout: MSU crystals, the major etiological agent of gout, stimulate macrophages to release interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which is mediated by nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation (Kingsbury, Conaghan & McDermott, 2011; Martinon et al., 2006).