Fig. 2.

STING induces hepatocyte pyroptosis by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome

(A) Wild-type mice were injected with olive oil or CCl₄ for 6 weeks. Colocalization of STING and NLRP3 was assessed by IF. (B) IF was used to analyze the colocalization of STING and NLRP3 in human cirrhotic livers. (C–F) Primary hepatocytes isolated from wild-type mice were treated with DMSO or the STING inhibitor C-176 for 2 h in addition to either vehicle or TNFα+DMXAA for an additional 6 h. Colocalization of STING and NLRP3 was determined by IF (C). Morphological changes, SEM, and colocalization of Caspase 1/PI were performed (D). The protein levels of STING, p-IRF3, cl-Caspase 1, and cl-GSDMD were determined by WB (E), and the quantitative data are shown (F). (G) Primary hepatocytes isolated from Sting^+/+ and Sting^−/− mice were treated with vehicle or TNFα+DMXAA for 6 h. The morphological changes, SEM, and colocalization of Caspase 1/PI were analyzed. n = 3/group, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.