Walking over the inflammasome

The NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to pathogenic inflammation in a broad range of diseases, making it a highly relevant drug target. Two studies published in this issue found an inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome activation to directly bind NLRP3 within its central NACHT domain, interfering with ATP hydrolysis and structural changes critical for NLRP3 oligomerization and subsequent inflammasome formation.