Figure 3.
Roles of NLRP3 inflammasome components in host resistance to Neospora caninum infection. Wild-type (WT), Nlrp3−/−, Asc−/−, and Caspase-1/11−/− mice were infected with 2 × 107 of N. caninum tachyzoites (intraperitoneal route) and were monitored daily. (A) Survival of mice was monitored for 30 days. (B) Weight of mice was recorded daily before death occurred. IL-1β (C) and IL-18 (D) in serum of these mice on day 5 after infection were measured by ELISA. Parasite loads were evaluated in brain (E), heart (F), and lung (G) samples by quantitative PCR. Data are shown as the mean ± SEM from three independent experiments (A,B) or two independent experiments (C–G) (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. WT group).