Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Promotes High-Glucose-Induced Dysfunction and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Figure 5

TMAO enhances high-glucose-induced ROS and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling activation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in HRMECs treated for 72 h, detected using DCFH-DA. Green fluorescence represents the positive ROS expression. (a) Scale, 50 μm. Average intensity of green fluorescence. (b) After treatment with NG, NG + TMAO, HG, HG + TMAO for 72 h, NLRP3 inflammasome proteins were measured using western blot. (c) NLRP3. (d) ASC. (e) Caspase-1. (f) Cleaved-caspase-1. (g) IL-1. (h) Pro-IL-1β. (i) Expression ratios compared to tubulin. vs. NG; ^{^}vs. HG; ^#vs. NG + TMAO, n = 3.

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