Fig 2. NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the pathogenesis of HMPV.
BALB/C mice were inoculated with HMPV at a LD50 dose (5 x 105 PFU per mouse). MCC950 treatment (5 mg/kg) was carried out (A) at the same time or (B) 24 h post-infection and repeated for the next two days (1 time/day). Mice were monitored for survival and weight loss for 14 days after infection and euthanized if humane end points were reached (≤ 20% of initial weight). Values were shown as mean of weight ± S.E.M or average percent survival (Kaplan Meier survial curves, * P < 0.05 MCC950 vs DMSO, n = 10 per group). (C) Mice were inoculated with HMPV at sublethal (3 x 105) or LD50 doses (5 x 105 PFU per mouse) in the presence or absence of MCC950 (5 mg/kg). MCC950 treatment was repeated for the next two days (1 time/day). The viral titers were evaluated in the lung homogenates. Values are shown as mean ± S.E.M (Mann-Whitney U-test, n = 5 per group).