NLRP3 and atherosclerosis: We and other investigators previously demonstrated the importance of NLRP3 inflammasomes in gout, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, asbestosis, silicosis, and Alzheimer's disease [9], [10], [11], suggesting that NLRP3 inflammasomes are a potential therapeutic target.