Figure 3.

Inhibition of the calcium channel and ROS pathway inhibited inflammasome activation mediated by the adrenergic signaling. (A) NRCFs were incubated with Fura-2/AM for 30 minutes, and then treated with NE or with verapamil before NE stimulation. Fluorescence intensity ratios were recorded and ratios of F340/F380 were calculated; *, P<0.05. (B) NRCFs were treated with verapamil for 30 min prior to NE treatment and analyzed by immunoblotting; (C) NRCFs were treated with or without NE for 48 h, then incubated with CM-H2DCFDA (2.5 µM) for 30 min and analyzed by flow cytometry; (D) NRCFs were treated with ROS inhibitor (NAC) for 30 min prior to NE treatment and analyzed by immunoblotting. ROS, reactive oxygen species; NRCF, neonatal rat cardiac fibroblast; NE, norepinephrine; NAC, N-acetyl cysteine.