Fig. 2

NLRP3 inflammasome pathways and putative mechanism by which cyclic stretch negatively regulates IL-1β secretion in murine macrophages. Treatment with LPS activates NF-κB signaling via toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 (signal 1) and induces the expression of NLRP3 and pro-IL-1β. Extracellular ATP activates inflammasomes via P2X7 receptors (signal 2) and induces the activation of caspase-1, which leads to the secretion of IL-1β and pyroptosis. Cyclic stretch does not interfere with NF-κB signaling (signal 1), but inhibits the activation of caspase-1 (signal 2) by attenuating the AMP kinase pathway