Figure 7.

ASC neutralization decreases SCI-induced activation and processing of caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, and XIAP cleavage. Representative immunoblots of injured spinal cords from animals subjected to SCI and treated intraperitoneally and intravenously with antibodies to ASC (A), IgG controls (IgG), or were left untreated (N) at 20 min after injury. Animals were killed 24 h after treatment. Treatment resulted in inhibition of inflammasome activation as detected by a decrease in the processing of procaspase-1, cleavage of XIAP, and a reduction in the levels of cleaved IL-1β and IL-18.