NLRP3 is a BMI-independent mediator of stable COPD.

Purpose: The inflammatory response in animal models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is activated by the NLR-family-pyrin-domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway, which is also known to play a role in obesity-related inflammation. The NLRP3/caspase-1/interleukin (IL)-1β pathway might be involved in the progression of COPD with increasing body mass index. To our knowledge, no previous studies have explored the role of NLRP3 inflammasome markers in linking COPD and obesity.