NLRP3 and pulmonary emphysema: Other disease-related genes were e.g. ANXA3 (regulates NLRP3 inflammasome activity and promotes LPS-induced inflammatory response in bronchial epithelial cells51), ADAMTS2 (involved in the emphysema phenotype of COPD52, and involved in cleavage of various substrates from the extracellular matrix, growth factors or cytokines53) and MMP25 (increased levels in lung tissue and induced sputum of patients with COPD54, matrix metalloproteinases accelerate pro-inflammatory processes in respiratory diseases55).