P2X7 Receptor Induces Pyroptotic Inflammation and Cartilage Degradation in Osteoarthritis via NF-κB/NLRP3 Crosstalk

Figure 1

MIA induces inflammation and increases P2X7 expression. (a) Cell viability after chondrocytes were treated with different concentrations (0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3 μM) of MIA for 12 or 24 h. (b) Histogram displaying LDH concentrations normalized to the control group. Grey, 0 μM MIA; green, 0.75 μM MIA; red, 1.5 μM MIA; blue, 3.0 μM MIA. (c) Representative flow cytometry scatter plots of double-positive staining for active caspase-1 and propidium iodide (PI). (d) Double-positive rate for active caspase-1 and PI after 12 h, assessed by flow cytometry. (e) Extracellular ATP concentration of chondrocytes measured by the luciferase reaction. (f) Representative western blot, (g) relative fold-change of intensity, and (h) mRNA expression measured by qRT-PCR for P2X7, MMP13, collagen II, and IL-1β level normalized to the control. Data are presented as of at least three independent experiments. , .

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