The NLRP3 inflammasome produced by periodontitis can promote the maturation and secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18, while autophagosomes can recognize and encapsulate the NLRP3 inflammasome to degrade it, thereby inhibiting the large-scale production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18 from the source, effectively reducing inflammatory damage to periodontal tissue (Hashim et al., 2024; Isola et al., 2022). The gene discussed is IL18; the disease is periodontitis.