TGFB1 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Furthermore, the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and its downstream cytokine caspase-1 are markedly activated in IPF mice, which are involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the TGF-β1 pathway (Tian et al. 2017).