Figure 4.

LPS-induced caspase-1 overexpression was by activating TLR4/stat3/SUMO1 signaling pathway(A) Western blot analysis indicates that TLR4/stat3 signaling is essential for LPS-induced caspase-1 expression. LPS-treated HCCLM3 cells were cultured with or without 10 µm stattic for 24 h. (B) Immunofluorescence staining p65 and transwell experiments were performed. LPS-treated HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells were cultured with or without 10 µm stattic for 24 h. (C) Western blot analysis indicates that stat3 signaling is essential for LPS-induced EMT phenotype. (D) q-PCR analysis reveals that Stat3 activation is essential for LPS-induced caspase-1 overexpression. (E) Caspase-1 enzymatic activity was measured by caspase-1 activity assays. Data are means ± SEM from 3 independent experiments, * means p < 0.05, ** means p < 0.01, *** means p < 0.001 by unpaired student T test.