Figure 5.

NLRP3^−/− aged mice are protected from bleomycin-induced mortality and fibrosis. Wild-type and NLRP3^−/− mice (13 mo old) were instilled with bleomycin (0.1 mg/mouse) via oral aspiration. (A) Survival of wild-type (n = 8) and NLRP3^−/− (n = 10) mice after bleomycin instillation (Mantel Cox test, P = 0.0049). (B) Right lobe tissue from mice was collected on Day 21 after bleomycin instillation, dehydrated overnight, and digested with 6N HCl before quantification of hydroxyproline levels. (C) Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on mice at Day 21, and cell counts were performed. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Student’s t test, **P = 0.0022 and ****P < 0.0001.