Inflammasome — a new look at the therapy of cardiovascular diseases. Part II

The role of inflammasomes in cardiovascular diseases has not been sufficiently studied at present. However, there are a number of recent studies showing the participation of these multiprotein complexes in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, in atrial fibrillation, the inflam­masome triggering helps to reduce the duration and refractivity of the atrial action potential, induction of early and/or delayed afterdepolarization, which maintains ectopic activity. In heart failure, the triggering of inflammasome cascade initiates and maintains chronic inflammation, leading to cardiac remo­deling and fibrosis. In coronary artery disease, inflammasome activation maintains ischemia and increases the necrosis area. Inflammatory reactions in pericarditis and myocarditis also do not occur without the participation of this multiprotein complex. In these pathologies, inflammasome inhibition helps to improve clinical symptoms and normalize the cardiac function. Therefore, inflammasome inhibitor agents can become a promising method of therapy in the above diseases.