NLRP3 and endothelial dysfunction: In the current work, by using mice (C57BL/6J, NALP3-/-, and wild-type, WT) fed with high salt diet (HSD), thoracic aortic rings from C57BL/6J, NALP3-/-, and WT mice by high salt treatment, and mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) cultured in high salt medium, we hypothesized that NALP3 is involved in high salt induced endothelial dysfunction.