Figure 5.

Roles of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1/11 in the host response against Neospora caninum at the initial infection site. Peritoneal exudate cells and peritoneal exudate fluids from wild-type (WT), Nlrp3^−/−, Asc^−/−, and Caspase-1/11^−/− mice infected with 1 × 10⁷ of N. caninum tachyzoites (intraperitoneal route) for 7 days were collected. (A) Parasite loads were measured by quantitative PCR in peritoneal exudate cells. IFN-γ (B), IL-12 (C), TNF-α (D), IL-6 (E), and IL-10 (F) were detected by ELISA in peritoneal exudate fluids. Data are shown as the mean ± SEM from two independent experiments (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. WT group).