Role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in asthma: Relationship with neutrophilic inflammation, obesity, and therapeutic options

Asthma represents a significant global health concern. It is now well recognized that asthma is a heterogeneous disease, with multiple underlying phenotypes. The presence or absence of airway inflammatory cells and/or levels of type 2 (T2) cytokines characterize asthma phenotypes including T2-high/eosinophilic and T2-low/noneosinophilic asthma. There is still a considerable gap in our knowledge regarding mechanisms of T2-low asthma. However, influx of neutrophils along with TH1/TH17-driven innate immune activation is thought to be important in a subgroup with neutrophilic asthma.