Fig. 6

TGF-β1 relieved the pyroptosis of primary cultured microglia induced by LPS in vitro. A A schematic diagram demonstrating different groups of primary cultured microglia. B Representative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showing morphological changes of cultured microglia under different treatments, scale bar = 5 μm. Higher magnification images were presented, scale bar = 1 μm. C The protein expression of pyroptosis-associated markers (Cleaved-GSDMD, NLRP3, Caspase-1-p20, and IL-1β) in cultured microglia was detected by Western blot. D, E Quantitative analysis of Western blot was conducted using One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001 versus CT group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 versus LPS group. N = 6 per group. F Representative confocal images showing NF-κB and p-ERK1/2 in cultured microglia, scale bar = 30 μm. Local enlarged views were demonstrated, scale bar = 10 μm. G The protein expression of p-NF-κB, NF-κB, p-ERK1/2, and ERK1/2 in cultured microglia among three group was examined by Western blot. H Quantitative analysis of Western blot was performed using One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. ****P < 0.0001 versus CT group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 versus LPS group. N = 6 per group