IL18 and atherosclerosis: Moreover, the NLRP3 inflammasome, a complex comprising the NLRP3 receptor, ASC adapter, and pro-caspase-1, plays a pivotal role in atherosclerosis development by catalyzing the maturation of caspase-1, which in turn generates IL-1β/IL-18 from pro-IL-1β/IL-18 [45].