NLRP3 and hairy cell leukemia: It has now been established that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a key role in host immunity to M kansasii and other mycobacteria.14 Many blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are associated with chronic activation of NLRP3.15 This pathway may also be involved in HCL through NLRP3 overactivation in splenic macrophages; thus, NTMs could lead to the development of HCL and other blood cancers.