NLRP3 Inflammasome: A Potential Alternative Therapy Target for Atherosclerosis

Table 3

The therapy targeting NLRP3 inflammasome for AS.

Therapy type	Medicine	Chemical structure	Effects and mechanisms	References
Natural medicine	Artemisinin (50, 100 mg/kg)		Vascular protection: the formation and proliferation of foam cells improved; the fibrosis in the intima of aorta promoted; Inflammation inhibition: targeting the AMPK/NF-κB-NLRP3 pathway	[99]
	Rosmarinic acid (100 μM)		Playing a protective role in nicotine-induced AS via inhibiting the axis of ROS-NLRP3-CRP	[100]
	Curcumin (0–100 μM)		Inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome in PMA-induced macrophage by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88, NF-κB, and P2X2R	[101]
	UDCA (20 μg/ml)	—	Attenuating NLRP3-dependent inflammation: reducing CCs; increasing cholesterol solubility	[102]
	Berberine (75 μM)		Alleviating NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reducing IL-1β secretion	[103]
	DHM (0.1, 0.5, and 1 μM)		Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities: ROS reduced; the release of caspase-1 and IL-1β reduced	[104]
	Apigenin (50 μM)		Endothelium protection: reversing the expression of adhesion molecule ICAM-1 and NLRP3 inflammasome	[105]
Clinical medicine	Colchicine (1 mg followed by 0.5 mg 1 hour later)		The levels of caspase-1 and IL-1β reduced	[106, 107]
	Statins (atovastatin 0–40 μM)		Inhibiting cholesterol synthesis; anti-inflammatory function	[108, 109]
	Dapagliflozin (1.0 mg/kg/d)		Inhibiting IL-1β secretion through the ROS-NLRP3-caspase-1 pathway	[110]
	Metformin (300 mg/kg/d, drinking water)		Anti-inflammatory function: reducing NLRP3 expression; inhibiting NLRP3 activation	[111]
Others	Dietary fiber	—	Antiatherogenic effects; anti-inflammatory effects	[112]
	Dietary PUFAs	—	Activating macrophage autophagy; inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome	[112]
	Melatonin (20–2000 μM)	—	Anti-inflammatory effects; preventing apoptosis of endothelial cells; attenuating NLRP3 inflammasome activation	[74]

AMPK: adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase; CRP: C-reactive protein; PMA: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; UDCA: ursodeoxycholic acid; CCs: cholesterol crystals; DHM: dihydromyricetin; TMAO: trimethylamine N-oxide; PUFAs: dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids.