Figure 4.

Autophagy inhibits LPS-induced pyrolytic dental pulp cell death by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. (A) Western blot assay was used to detect the contents of p-NF-κB, NF-κB and IκBα. (B) The protein levels of p-NF-κB, NF-κB and IκBα were quantified and normalized to that of β-tubulin. (C and D) The levels of (C) IL-1β and (D) caspase-1 were quantified and normalized to that of β-tubulin. (E) Western blot assay was used to detect IL-1β and caspase-1. (F) Human dental pulp cell viability was detected using sulforhodamine B assay. **P<0.01 vs. control; ^#P<0.05 and ^##P<0.01 vs. LPS; ^{^}P<0.05 and ^{^^}P<0.01 vs. LPS+Rapa; ^$$P<0.01 vs. LPS+3-MA. LPS, lipopolysaccharide; p-, phosphorylated; IκB, NF-κB inhibitor; IL, interleukin; Rapa, rapamycin. 3-MA, 3-methyladenine.