Fig. 1.

Treatment of TGF-β activates the NLRP3 inflammasome priming signals in LX-2 cells. LX-2 cells were treated with 10 ng/ml TGF-β for 10, 30, or 60 min. a mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β were analyzed by quantitative RT-qPCR. mRNA levels were normalized to those of cyclophilin. b Cell lysates were prepared and protein levels of NLRP3 and pro-IL-1β were analyzed by western blotting. GAPDH was used as an internal control. Representative western blot (upper panel) and densitometric quantification (lower panel) are shown. c The expression levels of priming-associated molecules such as TRAF6, TAK1, and NF-κB were analyzed by western blotting. GAPDH was used as an internal control. Representative western blots (left panel) and densitometric quantification (right panel) are shown. Data are means ± SEM. **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05 vs. CON; ^###p < 0.005, ^##p < 0.01, ^#p < 0.05 vs. TGF-β (10 min) (n = 3/group)