Abstract: Inflammasome is a multi-protein complex, which is a crucial constituent of innate immunity. NLRP3
inflammasome is the most extensively studied one. NLRP3 is composed of NLRP3, apoptosis associated spot like protein
(ASC) and pro-cysteine aspartate specific protease (caspase) - 1. When cells are stimulated, NLRP3 is activated and can
recruit pro-caspase-1 through the binding protein ASC to form NLRP3 inflammasome. Under the action of NLRP3
inflammasome, pro-caspase-1 is activated to caspase-1, which eventually leads to the maturation and secretion of IL-1 β
and IL-18, causing a series of inflammatory reactions. The NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in atherosclerosis,
type 2 diabetes, cancer and other diseases. There has been increasing evidence that NLRP3 inflammasome also plays an
important role in heart diseases, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). This article briefly introduces the
basic structure and function of NLRP3 inflammasome and reviews the research progress of the role of NLRP3 inflammasome
in the pathophysiology of MI/RI.

Key words: NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3 protein, inflammasomes, inflammation, reactive oxygen species,  myocardial reperfusion injury, microRNAs, review