Fig. 1.

Levels of NLRP3 and IL1β mRNAs in PBMCs and serum IL1β in the GA and HC groups. a Expression of NLRP3 mRNA in PBMCs for the 270 patients with GA and 108 healthy subjects was detected using RT-qPCR. NLRP3 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the GA group compared with the HC group (P < 0.01). b, c Expression of the IL1β mRNA in PBMCs and serum IL1β were measured in the 270 patients with GA and 108 healthy subjects. Expression of the IL1β mRNA and serum IL1β levels were much higher in the patients with GA than those in the HC group (P < 0.01; respectively). GA, gouty arthritis; HC, healthy controls. The Kruskal-Wallis’s test was performed; statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05