Western blotting analysis revealed that the levels of caspase-8, cleaved caspase-1, ASC, NLRP3 and GSDMD-N were obviously greater in the PHG patients and mice with PVL than in the controls, while IFX decreased the levels of these proteins in the mice with PVL (Figure 8B, Figure S6B, S6C). This evidence concerns the gene NLRP3 and periventricular leukomalacia.