CASP3 and endothelial dysfunction: Although the NLRP3 inflammasome complex is essential for caspase-1-mediated maturation of IL-1β and IL-18,46 this complex also mediates pyroptosis via caspase-1 activation.15 Indeed, caspase-1 activation through inflammasome formation plays an important role in homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction by inducing pyroptosis and apoptosis,11 likely by activating caspase-7, but not caspase-3.26 Similarly, our results showed that caspase-1 activated caspase-7, but not caspase-3, in serum-deprived endothelial cells.