Figure 6.

Src activation and NLRP3-IL-1β signaling in UA activated PTECs and hyperuricemic rats. UA (100 μg ml⁻¹, 48 h) stimulation significantly activated Src (indicated as phosphor-Src (pSrc)/Src, a), NLRP3 (b) and IL-1β (c), and reduced intracellular ATP (d). The NKA α1 expression vector or siRNA was added to PTECs for 30 h before 48 h UA 100 μg ml⁻¹ stimulation. NKA α1 siRNA significantly increased intracellular ATP level; however, it did not alleviate Src, NLRP3 and IL-1β activation induced by UA, whereas NKA α1 expression vector had no effect on intracellular ATP level, but significantly alleviated Src, NLRP3 and IL-1β activation induced by UA. (a–d) *P<0.05 vs Cont, **P<0.01 vs Cont, #P<0.05 vs UA, ##P<0.01 vs UA. Renal cortex expressions of Src, NLRP3 and IL-1β were detected by western blotting. Src (e), NLRP3 (f) and IL-1β (g) in OA-treated rats started to increase at week 7 and significantly higher than that of the control group at week 10. The expression of Src, NLRP3 and IL-1β were lower in the febuxostat group. Renal cortex ATP levels (h) were not different among Cont 10w, OA10w and Feb 10w groups. (e, f) *P<0.05 vs Cont, **P<0.01 vs Cont, #P<0.05 vs OA 10w.