Figure 6. COP knockout in human macrophages enhances cytokine release and caspase-1 activation.

(A) Control (Ctrl), CARD16^KO, CARD17^KO, CARD18^KO, and CASP1^KO THP-1 cells were primed with Pam3CSK4 (Pam) (1 μg mL⁻¹, 4 h) and activated with MSU crystals (180 μg mL⁻¹, 6 h) or nigericin (Nig) (5 μM, 45 min), and supernatants (SN) were analyzed for secreted IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF by ELISA (n = 3, mean ± SD). *p < 0.05. The dotted line indicates that CASP1^KO THP-1 are only present in the primed and activated treatment group. Untreated and primed control cells are the same for both treatment groups.

(B and C) Ctrl, CARD16^KO, CARD17^KO, CARD18^KO, and CASP1^KO THP-1 cells and CASP1^KO THP-1 cells were primed with Pam (1 μg mL⁻¹, 4 h) and activated with MSU crystals (180 μg mL⁻¹, 2 h), and SN and total cell lysates (TCL) were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot. Asterisk indicates a cross-reactive protein.

See also Figure S4.