NLRP3 and pulmonary fibrosis: Furthermore, our in vivo and in vitro experiments, which used methods such as western blotting, IHC staining, and immunofluorescence, confirmed the significant upregulation of NOX4, NLRP3, p-p38, and related pathways in the lungs of mice with BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis and the significant inhibition of this upregulation following treatment with AS/LIG/AS_LIG@PPGC NPs.