Figure 5.

GV promotes the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in primary mouse macrophages and THP-1 cells. The protein and mRNA expression of NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1 and caspase-1 in (A) macrophages and (B) THP-1 cells were detected by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. (C) Proposed model of GV-induced NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis in primary mouse macrophages and THP-1 cells.^**P<0.01 vs. Control; ^##P<0.01 vs. LPS or GV. GV, Gardnerella vaginalis; LPS, liposaccharide; NLRP3, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3; ASC, apoptosis associated speck-like protein.