The NLRP3 inflammasome, a protein complex belonging to the family of nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain like receptors (NLRs), plays a vital role in the innate immune system. It promotes pro-caspase 1 cleavage into active caspase-1, which contributes to maturation and releases of IL-1β and IL-18 in response to the harmful signals and participates in the host immune response and sterile inflammation. Recently a large number of studies have shown that NLRP3 inflammasome closely relates to the pathogenesis of the vascular diseases. NLRP3 inflammasome, which involves in the sterile inflammation of the vascular wall, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of main, middle and small arteries.
NLRP3炎症小体是核苷酸结合和寡聚化结构域样受体(nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors，NLRs)家族中的一种蛋白复合体，在固有免疫中发挥重要作用。当机体遭遇有害因子刺激时，NLRP3炎症体诱导pro-caspase 1裂解成具有活性的caspase 1，促进IL-1β，IL-18的成熟和释放，从而参与宿主抗感染和无菌性炎症反应。近年来大量研究表明NLRP3炎症体与血管疾病的发生发展密切相关，NLRP3炎症体参与的血管壁无菌性炎症反应在大、中、小及微血管的病理生理过程中起重要作用。.