The Synthetic Lignan Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside Prevents Asbestos-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Murine Macrophages

Figure 2

LGM2605 blocks the induction of the NLRP3 subunit of the inflammasome. Murine peritoneal macrophages exposed to LGM2605 4 hours prior to exposure to asbestos fibers were assessed for NLRP3 inflammasome by monitoring the induction of the NLRP3 subunit (green fluorescence) by laser scanning fluorescence microscopy at 24 hours as compared to 0 hours (a). A nuclear stain in the form of propidium iodide (PI) was used to delineate the cells. Magnification 200x; scale is 10 μm. Enlarged inset is at magnification 600x; scale is 30 μm. Grey arrows indicate asbestos fiber engulfed by the macrophage. Quantification of NLRP3 immunostaining (b). Date are presented as arbitrary fluorescence units and as mean ± SEM. Protein levels of the NLRP3 subunit of the inflammasome were evaluated by Western blotting for NLRP3 (c and d). (c) depicts a representative Western blot from three separate experiments at 24 hours. (d) displays mean ± SEM fold change of NLRP3 from CTL. ^∗Statistically significant difference () between ASB- and CTL-treated cells. ^#Statistically significant difference () between ASB- and ASB + LGM2605-treated cells.

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