NLRP3 and atherosclerosis: Inflammation-promoting cytokine involved in atherosclerosis development; linked with NLRP3 inflammasomes and caspase-1 activation processes; involved in the pathogenesis and advancement of CVDs through gene/protein expression changes; elevated levels are correlated with increased mortality in HF; and, plays a central role in many CVDs, including HF, MI, arrhythmias, pericarditis, myocarditis, and SICM.