Figure 1A shows increased NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N expression in human degenerated NP tissue, indicating that NP cell pyroptosis is increased during IDD. We next measured APN expression in NP tissue as well as LPS-stimulated NP cells. Decreased APN expression was observed in degenerated NP tissue (Figure 1B). Consistently, stimulation of human NP cells with LPS dramatically attenuated APN levels (Figure 1C). Here, NLRP3 is linked to intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.