Fig. 6.

Effect of MitoQ on NLPR3 signaling pathway in rats with BPH. (A) An IF assay was conducted to detect NLRP3 protein expression. (B) NLRP3-positive units were measured based on the IF assay. (C) The mRNA expression of PYCARD and IL-1β was evaluated using qRT-PCR. (D) The protein level of NLRP3, pro-caspase 1, cleaved caspase 1, and IL-1β was measured using western blotting. (E) The relative protein level was normalized to that of β-actin (housekeeping gene). ^###p < 0.001 compared with the Con group; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 compared with the BPH group; analysis of variance, followed by Dunnett's post-hoc test.