Heat-killed cells of Enterococcus faecalis have been shown to effectively reduce the inflammatory activation of NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding-domain- and leucine-rich repeat-containing family, pyrin-domain-containing 3) in macrophages, ameliorating the severity of DSS (dextran sodium sulfate)-induced experimental colitis and the development of colitis-associated CRC [102]. Here, NLRP3 is linked to colitis.