CASP1 and atherosclerosis: Macrophages are considered as the primary sources of IL-1β and IL-18, which are two major substrates of caspase-1 and are mainly responsible for caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis in atherosclerosis, promoting plaque destruction and arterial thrombosis through the release of chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and proteases (Dinarello, 2011).