Exercise Alleviates Atherosclerosis Through the Modulation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease closely associated with endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a key regulator of inflammatory responses, can exacerbate the progression of AS when activated. Growing evidence suggests that exercise, as a non-pharmacological intervention, can alleviate the progression of AS by modulating the activity of NLRP3 inflammasome. This review discusses how exercise influences the development of AS through the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the underlying molecular mechanism. This study introduces the structure and activation mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome, as well as its role in AS. And summarizes how exercise can ameliorate endothelial dysfunction, regulate lipid metabolism, and suppress oxidative stress and inflammation by affecting the expression and activity of NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby exerting a beneficial impact on AS. Additionally, we explore the effects of exercise on the downstream inflammatory cytokines of NLRP3 inflammasome and how this regulation could help to slow the progression of AS. These findings underscore the therapeutic relevance of exercise in the prevention and treatment of AS. It provides new insights into the role of exercise interventions in the management of AS and lays a theoretical foundation for the development of innovative treatment strategies for cardiovascular disease. Given that the NLRP3 inflammatome plays an important role in the pathogenesis and treatment of AS, exercise therapy strategies targeting the NLRP3 inflammatome will help promote the development of precision medicine for AS.