NLRP3 and asthma: We next assessed correlations between on IL-1β release by nigericin-challenged PBMCs from all asthmatic subjects and BMI, asthma control (ACQ-6), sputum eosinophils and neutrophils (total, %) and pre-bronchodilator lung function (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC) to determine whether increased NLRP3 inflammasome activation in PBMCs is associated with specific features of disease.