[Retracted] The Inflammasome NLRC4 Protects against Cryptococcus gattii by Inducing the Classic Caspase-1 to Activate the Pyroptosis Signal

Figure 2

NLRC4 affects the fungal burden and survival rate of mice. NLRC4 is required for survival and control of fungal burden after infection with Cryptococcus gattii GFP-R265. Wild-type (WT) and NLRC4-deficient (NLRC4^−/−) mice were infected intratracheally with 10⁵ CFU of Cryptococcus gattii R265. (a, b) The chest cavity of mice was exposed to the fluorescence camera, and the lung fluorescence imaging was performed. The fluorescence intensity represented the amount of fungal load. (b) As the average fluorescence intensity. (c) Lung scan imaging of WT and NLRC4^−/− mice using Micro CT, representative image. (d) Mice were observed for up to 30 days for survival analysis (n = 10 mice/strain, using a log-rank test). (e) Significant reduction of inflammation in NLRC4−/−compared to WT mice; Mucicarmine staining shows numerous heavily encapsulated extracellular Cryptococcus gattii in the airspaces of NLRC4−/− mice compared to WT mice. Representative images of lungs stained with PAS. (f) Fungal burden in the lung, liver, and spleen at serial time intervals was determined by plating tissue homogenates on Sabouraud dextrose agar. CFU data are shown as mean ± SEM and representative of two independent experiments (n = 4 mice/strain/time point). , , and . (g) Detection of cytokines in mouse lung tissue grinding fluid by ELISA.

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