Inhibiting DNA-mediated inflammasome activation for recurrent atherosclerotic stroke

Inhibiting cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-driven activation of the inflammasome caused by DNA release from neutrophil extracellular traps could help treat recurrent atherosclerotic stroke by preventing the post-stroke increase in plaque inflammation.

In a new mouse model of atherosclerosis with rupture-prone plaques, experimentally induced stroke increased plaque inflammation, circulating cfDNA, matrix metalloprotease activity in plaques, morphological markers of plaque rupture risk, and plaque rupture frequency, which increased to 40% compared with 10% in non-stroke controls...