Within the tubulointerstitium of IgA nephropathy kidneys, the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-18, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is markedly increased and positively correlates with the degree of proteinuria, tubular atrophy, interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis (162). Here, NLRP3 is linked to IgA glomerulonephritis.