Fig. 3.

HBV X protein (HBx) promoted the upregulation and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome expression under H₂O₂ stress. Quantification of mRNA expression of GAPDH, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, HMGB1, and GSDMD using real-time PCR, n = 5 (a, b). Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01. Western blot analysis of NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1, Cleaved-caspase-1 (p10), and IL-1β (mature IL-1β), n = 4 (c, d). GAPDH served as a loading control