Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Ventricular Remodeling

Reperfusion therapy is the optimal therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but acute inflammatory injury and chronic heart failure (HF) after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R) remain the leading cause of death after AMI. Pyroptosis, a newly discovered form of cell death, has been proven to play a significant role in the acute reperfusion process and the subsequent chronic process of ventricular remodeling. Current research shows that multiple stimuli activate the pyroptotic signaling pathway and contribute to cell death and nonbacterial inflammation after MI/R. These stimuli promote the assembly of the nucleotide-binding and oligomerization-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome by activating NLRP3. The mature NLRP3 inflammasome cleaves procaspase-1 to active caspase-1, which leads to mature processing of interleukin (IL)-18, IL-1β, and gasdermin D (GSDMD) protein. That eventually results in cell lysis and generation of nonbacterial inflammation. The present review summarizes the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation after MI/R and discusses the role that NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis plays in the pathophysiology of MI/R injury and ventricular remodeling. We also discuss potential mechanisms and targeted therapy for which there is evidence supporting treatment of ischemic heart disease.