Figure 7.
KPs reduced the NLRP3 inflammasome expression in the kidneys of salt-treated SHRSP rats, as determined by Western blot analysis. (A) NLRP3 inflammasome protein expression was elevated in 60% (3/5) of the untreated SHRSP rats and 100% (5/5) of the salt-treated SHRSP rats, but only a small amount of NLRP3 inflammasome was present in the SHRSP rats administered KPs. (B) Quantitative analysis of the results of the Western blot analysis to determine the NLRP3 protein expression level by ImageQuantTM TL8.1 analysis software. Data are presented as the means ± SEMs (Normal, n = 5; SHRSP, n = 5; SHRSP+NaCl, n = 6; SHRSP+NaCl+KPs, n = 6) and were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Data within columns that are not labeled with the same letter are significantly different (p < 0.05), as determined using Duncan’s test.