Platelets Enhance NLRP3 and Pro-IL-1 Transcription in Human Macrophages
(A) Caspase-1 activity in cell-free supernatants of NLRP3-overexpressing mouse macrophages ± platelets (50:1 ratio). Cells were left resting (Unstim) or activated with Nigericin (10 μM, 90 min) without LPS priming.
(B) qPCR analysis of the indicated genes in hMDMs ± platelet supernatants.
(C) Confocal imaging and quantification of ASC specks in LPS-primed and Nigericin-activated hMDMs ± platelets (50:1 ratio). Scale bar, 11 μm.
(D and E) Immunoblotting for IL-1β (D) or caspase-1 (E) in cell-free supernatants, as well as β-actin in cell lysates of resting, LPS-primed hMDMs ± platelets (50:1 ratio), or platelet supernatants. Different donors are indicated.
(F) Caspase-1 activity in cell-free supernatants of hMDMs treated as in (C). Graphs show floating bars (with mean and minimum to maximum values) from pooled data from three or four independent experiments. Each symbol represents the average of technical triplicates from different donors.