Live G. vaginalis induces inflammasome activation in THP-1 monocytes. Exposure to live G. vaginalis increases caspase-1 (A) and IL-1β (B) but not cell death (LDH) (C) in THP-null-2 cells. In THP-NLRP3 knockout cells the G. vaginalis-mediated increases in inflammasome-associated proteins are significantly reduced (A, B). LPS, included as a positive control, significantly increase IL-1β in THP-null-2 cells which was reduced in THP-NLRP3 knockout cells. Pre-treatment with glybenclamide, a specific NLRP3 inhibitor, significantly reduced the G. vaginalis-mediated increase in caspase-1 (D) and IL-1β (E). LDH was unchanged by glybenclamide (F). Values are mean ± SEM. Asterisks over the individual bars represent comparisons to control; asterisks over solid lines represent comparisons between treatment groups. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001.