27.07.2020Lessons learned from recent clinical trials: Is the inflammasome the new cholesterol?

In this review, Liberale and colleagues summarize findings from recent clinical trials, including the seminal Canakinumab Anti-inflammatory Thrombosis Outcome Study (CANTOS) and the Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (COLCOT). These randomized trials convincingly show that specific anti-inflammatory treatments are indeed an effective strategy to combat the sequelae of human atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and highlight the NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-related pathway as a promising therapeutic target to blunt ASCVD. In contrast, however, other trials interfering with a number of inflammasome-independent pathways failed to provide benefit. Check out the full article which is now available here.