NLRP3 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The dysregulation of the NLRP3-inflammasome pathway has been involved in the pathogenesis of various pulmonary diseases characterized by fibrotic evolution such as acute lung injury, respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma [23], pulmonary hypertension [24], cystic fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [25].