Fig. 3

Hv1 deficiency reduces activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome after SCI. a–c Representative confocal images showing the NLRP3 inflammasome markers (green) NLRP3 (a), Caspase-1 (b), and ASC (c), as well as the neuronal marker, NeuN (red; scale bar, 50 μm). d–f Quantification of the fraction (%) of d NLRP3-positive neurons (NLRP3⁺NeuN⁺ cells/NeuN⁺ cells × 100), (e) Caspase-1-positive neurons (Caspase-1⁺NeuN⁺ cells/NeuN⁺ cells × 100) and f ASC-positive neurons (ASC⁺ NeuN⁺ cells/NeuN⁺ cells × 100). g Western blotting showing NLRP3, caspase-1 p20, ASC, and IL-18 protein levels. h–k Quantification of Western-blot results for NLRP3 (H), caspase-1 p20 (i), ASC (j), and IL-18 (k) normalized to β-actin. l The expression of IL-18 mRNA via real-time PCR. Data are represented as the mean ± SEM (n = 5 for each treatment; ^#p < 0.05 ^##p < 0.01, SCI vs. sham treatment; *p < 0.05 **p < 0.01, KO SCI vs. WT SCI)