Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is critical for host immune defenses against pathogenic infections; however, aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the progression of various inflammatory diseases, such as cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, gout, arthritis, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease (5). Here, NLRP3 is linked to arthritic joint disease.