NLRP3 and cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome: Although the NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in host immune defenses [18–20], evidence show that its aberrant activation is also associated with the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, gout, as well as cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) [21–24].