NLRP3 Inflammasome: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a vascular disease characterized by dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells, infiltration of macrophages, formation of foam cells, and proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. Current studies have shown that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a key regulatory role in the cellular pathological process of atherosclerosis. This review systematically summarizes the role and underlying mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the cellular pathological processes of atherosclerosis: various risk factors activate this inflammasome to exacerbate cell damage, while many endogenous factors exert protective effects by inhibiting its activity. In addition, the article reviews intervention strategies ranging from specific chemical drugs to multi-target natural products, and discusses emerging new technologies such as nano-targeted delivery, providing a theoretical basis for anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies. Significance statement: This study focuses on NLRP3 inflammasome, whose key role in the process of atherosclerosis is becoming increasingly clear. These findings suggest that targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome may represent a potential direction for developing new therapeutic strategies, although most agents remain at the preclinical stage and require further validation.