Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To investigate the relationship between of Nod-like receptor protein 3/interleukin-1β (NLRP3/IL-1β) signaling pathway activation and blood high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level and atherosclerosis (AS) in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods A total of 83 patients who underwent MHD were collected as the study group, and 20 healthy individuals as the control group. Their biochemical indexes, HDL-C, serum IL-1β, interleukin-18 (IL-18) and NLRP3 mRNA were assayed, and the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured. The differences of these results were compared
between the two groups. The correlations between HDL-C and NLRP3 mRNA, carotid artery IMT and NLRP3 mRNA, and IL-1β and IL-18 were analyzed respectively. The risk factors affecting HDL-C level and carotid IMT in MHD patients were explored. Results HDL-C level was lower in MHD patients than in the control group (t=-7.048，P<0.001), while carotid IMT value was higher in MHD patients than in the control group (t=2.634，P<0.001). HDL- C was negatively correlated with NLRP3 mRNA (r=- 0.682, P<0.001), IL- 1β (r=-0.537, P<0.01) and IL-18 (r=-0.426, P<0.01). Carotid artery IMT was positively correlated with NLRP3 mRNA (r=0.521, P<0.001), IL-1β (r=0.569, P<0.001) and IL-18 (r=0.674, P<0.001). Hence, the activation of NLRP3 mRNA was the risk factor for low HDL-C level (B=-0.390, P<0.001), while the activation of NLRP3 mRNA (B=0.069, P<0.001) and IL-18 signals (B=0.002, P< 0.001) and the decrease of HDL-C (B=-0.106, P<0.001) were the risk factors for the increase of carotid IMT in MHD patients. Conclusion NLRP3/IL-1β signal pathway is involved in the decrease of blood HDL-C level and the thickening of carotid artery IMT in
MHD patients.

Key words: Nod?like receptor protein 3, Interleukin 1β, Interleukin 18, Maintenance hemodialysis, High density lipoprotein cholesterol