Lastly, pathogenic pollutants and cigarette smoke activate NLRP3 inflammasome via ROS and mtROS generation, contributing to chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the respiratory system, which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung fibrosis (99). The gene discussed is NLRP3; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.