NLRP3 and atrial fibrillation: Yao et al. found excessively activated NLRP3 inflammasome and related downstream signaling pathways in atrial cardiomyocytes of patients with AF, which can promote ectopic activity, abnormal sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release, atrial effective refractory period shortening, atrial hypertrophy, and ultimately give rise to AF.