Figure 4. TNF deficiency prevents and attenuates systemic inflammatory disease in Nlrp3^A350V mice.

(A–C) Survival and growth of Nlrp3^A350V, Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^–/–, and Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^+/– mice. Phenotypic comparison showing reduced survival and runting in Nlrp3^A350V mice, with complete and partial rescue in Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^–/– and Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^+/– animals, respectively (n = 6 for Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^–/– mice, n = 10 for Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^+/– mice, and n = 18 for Nlrp3^A350V mice). (D) The splenomegaly observed in Nlrp3^A350V and Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^+/– mice was absent in Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^–/– mice (n = 5 mice/group). *P < 0.05 by Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn’s multiple comparisons test. Data represent the mean ± SEM. (E) Serum IL-1β levels were significantly reduced in Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^–/– mice compared with levels in Nlrp3^A350V mice, with no difference detected in Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^+/– mice. (F) Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^–/– animals showed a significant reduction in serum IL-18 levels, while Nlrp3^A350V Tnf^+/– animals had an intermediate but significant reduction compared with levels in Nlrp3^A350V mice. *P < 0.05, by unpaired, 2-tailed Student’s t test (E and F). Each data point represents an individual mouse; horizontal bars represent the mean.