Hydrogen Sulfide Attenuates High Glucose-Induced Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Inflammation by Inhibiting ROS Formation and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

Figure 4

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) attenuated intracellular ROS formation and inflammatory response. The inhibition of ROS by NAC decreased the gene expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β and the protein expression of IL-18 and IL-1β in ARPE-19 cells. ARPE-19 cells were cultured under low or high glucose with or without 2.5 mM of NAC for 48 hours. The mRNA and protein expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-18 and IL-1β and inflammasome activation markers NLRP3, ACS, and caspase-1 were determined, accordingly. (a) IL-18 mRNA; (b) IL-1β mRNA; (c) intracellular IL-18 protein levels; (d) intracellular IL-1β protein levels; (e) NLRP3 mRNA; (f) ASC mRNA; (g) caspase-1 mRNA. Data were presented as the error (SE) of three independent experiments. and , compared between the high-glucose and high-glucose+NAC groups (low glucose: 5.5 mM, high glucose: 25 mM).

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