IL18 and cardiac hypertrophy: The activation of caspase-1 was alleviated during HP, while the overexpression of caspase-1 greatly blunted the beneficial effects of HP through IL-1β- and IL-18-mediated aggravation of MAPK hypertrophic signaling pathways, suggesting caspase-1 serves as an antecedent indicator and predisposing factor of cardiac hypertrophy.