Inflammasome is a multiprotein complex and oligomeric platform that dimerizes and thereby activates cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease (caspase)-1. Caspase-1, also known as the interleukin (IL)-1β-converting enzyme (ICE), is the prototypical member of the inflammatory caspases and involved in regulating maturation of IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-33, key cytokines for the recruitment and engagement of inflammatory cells. Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs), which detect intracellular pathogens or other ‘alarms’, promote the assembly of inflammasome. Some evolutionary aspects and biochemical studies were reviewed, underlining the role of inflammasomes in infection as well as inflammatory diseases.