NLRP3 and atherosclerosis: Both preclinical and clinical findings support the significant role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1 cytokines in the formation, progression, and complications of atherosclerosis, in ischemic injury (such as acute myocardial infarction), and in non-ischemic injury to the myocardium (myocarditis), leading to heart failure [70].