Role of inflammasome components ASC and NLRP3 in ox-LDL induced caspase-1 activation.

<p>A. Cells were cultured with PBS (control) or with ox-LDL (100 µg/ml, 48 h). Gene expression of inflammasome components was measured by RT-PCR. * indicated vs control, *p<0.05. <i>NS</i>, not significant differences (<i>p</i>>0.05). Cells were transfected with non-targeting siRNA (control) or siRNA specific for NLRP3 (B) or ASC (C). After transfection, inhibition rate of siRNA was measured by RT-PCR. Transfected cells were then cultured for 48 h with or without ox-LDL (100 µg/ml, 48 h). Caspase-1 activity was measured by Ac-YVAD-<i>p</i>NA. ***<i>p</i><0.001. <i>NS</i>, not significant differences (<i>p</i>>0.05). D. Cells were transfected and cultured as described above. Protein of cleaved caspase-1 was measured by western blot. Un-transfected human macrophages cultured with ox-LDL was used as control. β-actin was used for protein loading controls. Data are presented as mean±SEM of at least three independent experiments.