NLRP3 and renal fibrosis: NLRP3 deficiency attenuates renal injury in IgA nephropathy.322 Furthermore, there is evidence that IgA induces podocyte NLRP3 expression as well as macrophage trans-differentiation, which leads to renal fibrosis in IgA nephropathy.320 Intriguingly, patients with IgA nephropathy have a worse prognosis when their NLRP3 mRNA expression is low.323 Reduced levels of NLRP3 mRNA and protein in the tubules may reflect a loss of the tubular epithelial phenotype and cell death.