Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Radiation-Induced Brain Injury by Inhibiting Microglia Pyroptosis

Figure 5

MSCs alleviated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and caspase-1 caused by radiation in vivo. (a) Immunofluorescence assay proved that MSCs prevented the NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by radiation in vivo. (b) Western blotting analysis demonstrated that mice brains exposed to 15 Gy radiation experienced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and caspase-1 which was successfully prevented by MSCs transplantation through stereotactic intracranial injection a month later. Scale bar indicates 50 μm. Bars represent mean ± SEM. 7, versus the control group (con); versus the Rad group.

(a)

(b)