Figure 1.

P2X7R activation induces the release of IL-1β in primary mouse SMG cell aggregates. A, dispersed SMG cell aggregates from wild-type mice were cultured in the presence or absence of A438079 (25 μm) for 30 min and then incubated with ATP (3 mm) or nigericin (10 μm) for 90 min (n = 4). B, dispersed SMG cell aggregates isolated from P2X7R^−/− mice were incubated with ATP (3 mm) or nigericin (10 μm) for 90 min (n = 3). Cells were collected by centrifugation and IL-1β was quantified in the supernatant using the IL-1β Quantikine ELISA kit. Data represent means ± S.E., where **, p < 0.01 indicates a significant increase over basal levels, and ^##, p < 0.01 indicates a significant decrease compared with ATP-treated cells.