FIG. 3.

Effect of MCC950 on immunohistochemical analysis of principal markers of NLRP3 inflammasome activation at 24 and 72 h post-TBI. Expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β were evaluated in pericontusional cerebral cortex at 24 (A) and 72 h (C) post-TBI as an index for acute NLRP3 activation. Fluorescent intensity was calculated and is represented by bar graph (B) and (D). According to the representative probed sections mice treated with MCC950 remarkably reduce TBI-associated NLRP3 inflammasome stimulation (n = 8; scale bar = 20 μm). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 versus corresponding sham; **p < 0.01 versus corresponding sham; ^#p < 0.05 versus corresponding TBI; ^##p < 0.01 versus corresponding TBI. CNS, central nervous system; IL-1β, interleukin-1 beta; NLRP3, nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein-3; SEM, standard error of the mean; TBI, traumatic brain injury.