Figure 1.

EAE-induced complement and inflammasome activation in the DRG. A–C, PCR analysis of lumbar DRGs from EAE animals revealed that the complement component 3 (C3), its receptor C3aR1, and component 5a receptor (C5aR1; also known as CD88) are transiently upregulated at the onset of disease as compared to CFA control samples. D, Similarly, mRNA transcripts of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 are also upregulated at disease onset only to taper off at the chronic time point 21 d post-induction. NLRP3 = NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3; IL = interleukin. Bars indicate mean ± SEM; *,#p < 0.05; **,##p < 0.01; ***,###p < 0.001, one-way ANOVAs with Tukey’s post hoc analysis. CFA, n = 5; onset, n = 5; chronic, n = 5.