Figure 5.

Involvement of the nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain–like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)–caspase‐1 cascade in aortic challenge–induced matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP‐9) activation. A, Representative Western blot analysis of aortic protein lysates, (B) in situ zymography images of aortas, and the corresponding quantification of data showing that the challenge‐induced increase in MMP‐9 levels and activity observed in wild‐type (WT) mice was reduced in challenged Nlrp3‐/‐ and Casp1‐/‐ mice. Data are presented as mean±SEM. A 2‐sample t test was used for 2‐group comparisons in (A). One‐way ANOVA with the post hoc Dunnett T3 test was used for pairwise comparisons in (B).