FIG 7.

Synergistic effect of Chlamydia pneumoniae with CNTs on IL-1β secretion from macrophages requires NLRP3 inflammasome activation followed by caspase-1 activation. (A) Gene silencing of NLRP3 gene knockdown (KD) (siRNA) and control (scrambled) cells was confirmed by RT-PCR. (B) Representative Western blotting images show siRNA treatment diminished IL-1β secretion from NLRP3 KD cells stimulated with C. pneumoniae and/or CNTs. Results are representative of three independent experiments. sup, desalinized culture supernatants of THP-1 cells; cell, the remaining cells; RT, reverse transcription; Cpn, C. pneumoniae; CNT, carbon nanotube; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; NC, negative control.