NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing 3) is essential for the immune response to numerous pathogens, but is also involved in chronic sterile inflammatory diseases, such as cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome, type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, and gout14. The gene discussed is NLRP3; the disease is early-onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease.