Fig. 3

Role of NLRP3 in IL-1β secretion induced in LPS-treated THP-1 cells. THP-1 cells were treated with siRNA against ASC, incubated overnight with 100 ng/ml PMA, washed with PBS, and incubated further with or without Zol for another 24 h. THP-1 cells were then treated with 100 ng/ml LPS. ATP was applied to LPS-treated cells for 30 min before collecting samples. a Protein expression was detected by western blotting. Silencing of ASC downregulated the expression of the mature IL-1β in LPS-treated THP-1 cells. b The secretion of IL-1β was detected by ELISA. Open bars represent LPS-treated THP-1 cells; filled bars represent Zol and LPS-treated THP-1 cells. Silencing of ASC reduced the secretion of IL-1β in LPS-treated THP-1 cells (*P < 0.01 vs. control siRNA THP-1 cells treated with LPS alone, ** P < 0.01 vs. control siRNA THP-1 cells treated with Zol and LPS)