Blockade of NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β Regulated Th17/Treg Immune Imbalance and Attenuated the Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation in an Ovalbumin-Induced Murine Model of Asthma

Figure 4

Inhibition of the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β pathway suppressed ovalbumin-induced Th17 cell response. (a, b) Splenocytes were derived from mice and stimulated with PMA and ionomycin, and after fixed and permeabilized, cells were incubated with extracellular and intracellular antibodies. Stained cells were run on the CytoFLEX Flow Analyzer and analyzed with the CytExpert software. (c) The concentration of IL-17A in BALF was quantified by ELISA. (d) mRNA expression of RORγt in lung homogenates was detected by real-time PCR. Data are expressed as . . Compared to the control group, , , and ; compared to the neutrophilic asthma group, ^#, ^##, and ^###. NLRP3: nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3; PMA: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; BALF: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; RORγt: retinoid-related orphan receptor-γt; PCR: polymerase chain reaction.

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