STAT3 and colorectal carcinoma: A third mechanism is that the gut microbiota composition and function, which can influence the intestinal barrier integrity and immune homeostasis, is another factor that is influenced by NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, NLRP3 inflammasome may interact with other signaling pathways, like nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), to modulate CRC development [88, 116].