FIGURE 1.

Inflammasome activation in cardiac cells initiates cardiac inflammation to promote heart failure. Under pathologic conditions, inflammasomes in cardiomyocytes, and fibroblasts are activated. Activated inflammasomes cause the release of proinflammatory cytokines from various cell types, collaboratively contributing to the inflammatory cascade. Besides cytokines, membrane nanotubes also mediate the transport of activated inflammasomes, thereby propagating inflammatory injury. The resultant cardiac inflammation causes pathologic cardiac remodeling, cell death, and dysfunction.