Figure 3. Inhibition of protein synthesis fails to elicit efflux of potassium from cells.

A) Intracellular potassium in WT BMDM was analyzed by ICP-MS after priming with LPS for 4 h and exposure to emetine, ATP, and nigericin for indicated times. Data are represented as mean ± SEM from triplicate dishes. Measurements of potassium release by cells exposed to ATP and nigericin were terminated at 10 min and 60 min, respectively, as a result of cytotoxicity and detachment of cells from the dishes. Cells exposed to emetine showed no signs of cytotoxicity or detachment by 4 h. B) Elevated potassium blocks emetine-mediated release of IL-1ß and processing of caspase-1. LPS-primed BMDM were either exposed or not exposed to 10 µg/ml emetine for 4 h, at which time proteins were precipitated from the media with TCA and analyzed by Western blotting as shown. C) BMDM in triplicate wells were pulse-labeled in medium containing [³H]-leucine for 15 min prior to harvest at the indicated times and the amount of [³H]-leucine incorporation was measured.