The ratio of p-SMAD2/total SMAD2 was shown in Fig. 5H. Besides, we pre-treated FLS-RA with SB505124 (inhibitor of TGF-β receptor I), ASC and NLRP3 displayed increased expression compared with nigericin treated group (Fig. 5I, J; P<0.05). The gene discussed is NLRP3; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.