“…NLRP3 activation facilitates cleavage of pro-caspase-1 into its active form, leading to the subsequent processing of pro-inflammatory cytokines, notably interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 within microglia and astrocytes, contributing to the pathogenesis of VCID including white matter lesions ( Poh et al, 2021 ; Li L et al, 2022 ; Wang et al, 2023 ). NF-κB signaling activation also induces NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1β and IL-18 maturation which activate downstream inflammatory cascades including transformation of neurotoxic A1 astrocytes and various cell death pathways including apoptosis, and pyroptosis ( Aachoui et al, 2013 ; Li L et al, 2022 ; Wang et al, 2023 ; Wong et al, 2023 ). In depression-like mice, after 2–6 weeks of chronic mild stress (CMS), the NLRP3 inflammasome activates microglia, leading to the release of an A1 cocktail l (TNF-α, IL-1α, and C1qA) and upregulation of related A1 astrocyte genes ( H2-T23, Serping1, H2-D1, Ugt1a5, Fkbp5, Ligp1, Fbln5, Ggta1, C3, Gbp2, Pmsb8 and Amigo2 ) ( Li S et al, 2022 ).…”