Fig. 5.

Mice lacking ASC (ASC−/−) and NLRP3 (NLRP3 −/−) have reduced collagen deposition in a CCL₄ model of liver fibrosis. A–C: nonpolarized light Sirius red images of wild-type mice, ASC−/− mice, and NLRP3−/− mice receiving corn oil. D–F: wild-type mice receiving CCl₄ developed significant fibrosis, but the degree of fibrosis was significantly less in ASC−/− and NLRP3−/− mice. G: quantification of differences in Sirius red staining by morphometry showing significantly less fibrosis in ASC−/− and NLRP3−/− mice (P < 0.0005). H: Western blotting was performed using the protein from whole liver tissue. The densitometry of this data is consistent with the Sirius red staining data.