Fig. 2.

Effects of zoledronic acid on the expression of inflammasome-associated proteins. THP-1 cells were treated overnight with 100 ng/ml PMA, washed with PBS, and incubated with or without Zol for 24 h. THP-1 cells were then treated with 100 ng/ml LPS. ATP was applied to LPS-treated cells for 30 min before collecting samples. a Protein expression was detected by western blotting. b Band intensities were measured by scanning densitometry. Data were normalized to β-actin expression. Open bars represent LPS-treated THP-1 cells; filled bars represent Zol and LPS-treated THP-1 cells. Zol promoted the expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1 p20, IL-1β precursor, and mature IL-1β proteins in LPS-treated THP-1 cells (*P < 0.05 vs. cells treated with LPS alone)