Fig. 4.

The effect of the pUL83/AIM2 complex on the AIM2 inflammasome. ASC, pro-caspase-1, and pro-IL-1β ORFs were inserted into pDsRed2-N1 expression vectors. The recombinant vectors with or without the pVP-AIM2 vector were used to co-transfect HEK293T cells transiently for 72 h. The resultant cells were named rHEK293T or rHEK293T (AIM2-). Protein expression of these cells (a and b, line 2 and 7) as well as that of wild HEK293T cells (a and b, line 1) was determined by immunoblotting. Poly(dA:dT) was used to transfect rHEK293T cells for 6 h and 24 h or transfect rHEK293T (AIM2-) cells for 6 h to activate the AIM2 inflammasome, and the expression and activation of inflammasome proteins were then determined (a and b, lines 3, 4 and 8). The UL83 expression vector was used to transfect rHEK293T cells, which were then stimulated with poly(dA:dT); the inflammasome proteins were then detected (a and b, lines 5, 6 and 9). P: poly(dA:dT). p10: the activated form of caspase-1