Figure 2.

Evidence that focal ischemic stroke activates the inflammasome in cerebral cortical cells. (a and b) Representative immunoblots and quantification of inflammasome proteins, IL-1β and IL-18 in ipsilateral brain lysates at the indicated post-stroke time points. Data are represented as mean±S.E.M. n=3–6. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001 compared with SHAM (control). (c) Immunohistochemical analysis on caspase-1 and IL-1β show localization within the cytoplasm of cortical neurons. The levels of inflammasome proteins, IL-1β and IL-18 are upregulated in I/R in comparison with SHAM (control). Magnification, × 1000. Scale bar, 10 μm. Images were taken under identical conditions and exposures