NLRP3 inflammasome serves as a platformfor caspase-1 activation in response to hyperglycemia, cellular damage,, or infection. In diabetic retinopathy, NLRP3 inflammasome causescaspase-1-mediated programmed cell death (pyroptosis) in the retina. Active caspase-1 proteolyzes the biologicallyinert pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 cytokines into their bioactiveinflammatory cytokines. Here, NLRP3 is linked to infection.