NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. A, IL-1β by ELISA. B, IL-1β, IL-18, (C) Caspase-1, (D) NLRP3 and ASC by Western blot analysis. Cells were incubated with 1 μg/mL of LPS for 5.5 hours, and then with Cf-02 at concentrations indicated for 30 minutes, followed by 5 mM ATP for 30 minutes. Data are presented as means ± SEM for three separate experiments, and each experiment was performed in triplicate. Casp-1, caspase-1; Cf-02, a novel benzamide-linked small molecule. ***P < .005 and ****P < .001. ns, no significant difference