Despite our in vitro studies showing that autocrine activation is sufficient to induce caspase-1/IL-1β/IL-1R1 feedback signaling the combination of several IL-1β-producing cells amplifying feedback signaling might be necessary to reach high enough IL-1β levels for IL-1β to drive caspase-1 activation via the IL-1R1 in the diabetic retina. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and diabetes mellitus.