NLRP3 and pulmonary arterial hypertension: In a Su/Hx-PAH mouse model and MCT-PAH, increased proliferation of PASMCs was closely associated with activation of the NLRP3.220 SOD2, an essential antioxidant enzyme responsible for neutralizing superoxide radicals, plays a crucial role in PH with the implication of the NLRP3 pathway.221 In PH, the involvement of SOD2 extends beyond its antioxidant function, as studies have suggested its association with apoptosis and proliferation.221 SOD2, by regulating oxidative stress, can influence apoptotic pathways, potentially impacting cell survival and death mechanisms in pulmonary vascular cells.