NLRP3 Inflammasome: A Potential Alternative Therapy Target for Atherosclerosis

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Chao Li¹  Honglin Yin¹  Xinrong Zhang¹  Yang Liu²  Yunlun Li² 

[1] Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 250355 Ji-nan, China, sdutcm.edu.cn;Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 250355 Ji-nan, China, sdutcm.edu.cn;Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 250000 Ji-nan, China, sdutcm.edu.cn;

DOI  :  10.1155/2020/1561342

来源: publisher

【 摘 要 】

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a complex and chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in multiple systems of the human body. It is an important pathological basis for a variety of diseases and a serious threat to human health. So far, many theories have been formed to explain the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, among which “inflammation theory” has gradually become a research focus. This theory presents that inflammatory response runs through the whole progress of AS, inflammatory cells play as the main executors of AS, and inflammatory mediators are the key molecules of AS. In the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis, the role of NLRP3 in the atherosclerosis has gradually got the attention of researchers. NLRP3 is a kind of signal-transductional pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). After recognizing and binding to the damage factors, NLRP3 inflammasome will be assembled to activate IL-1β and caspase-1 pathways, resulting in promoting the inflammation process of AS, reducing the stability of the plaques, and finally increasing the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events. Taken above, the article will review the potential benefits of drugs targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome in the therapy of AS.

【 授权许可】

Unknown