NLRP3 and atherosclerosis: Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in VSMCs leads to the secretion of HMGB1, which downregulates liver X receptor α and ATP-binding cassette transporter expression via the receptor for advanced glycation end products, playing a significant role in the development of vascular smooth muscle cell-like foam cells and atherosclerosis (Burger et al., 2021).