PYCARD and inflammation: Studies have confirmed that compared with WT asthmatic mice, NLRP3 gene knockout (Nlrp3−/−), ASC/PYCARD gene knockout (Pycard−/−), or Caspase-1 gene knockout (Caspase-1−/−) asthmatic mice established by OVA sensitization and challenge model have significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue, serum IgE level and Th2 and Th17 cytokine content in BALF, indicating that NLRP3 inflammasome is essential in the occurrence or aggravation of asthmatic airway inflammation.