Fig. 7

MCC950 reduced caspase-1-mediated inflammatory IVIS signal in in vitro cultured dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of mTBI mice. Caspase-1 activation reporter mice were separated into three groups: sham injuries, 3 × mTBI injuries, and 3 × mTBI with MCC950 treatment. Animals underwent a series of three injuries (either sham or mTBI, each separated by one week) over the period of 3 week. Animals were treated with either saline or MCC950 after each injury. DRGs were then harvested at 24 h after the last injury and cultured. IVIS imaging was performed at three days after DRGs culture was established. A Sample image of cultured DRG at 3 days after plating showing primary sensory neurons (white arrows). B Sample images of IVIS imaging signals from cultured DRGs from sham, mTBI, and mTBI + MCC950 animals C Significant increase in caspase-1-mediated inflammatory signals in DRGs of mTBI animals compare to sham animals. This increase in inflammatory response was attenuated in injured animal that received MCC950 treatments (n = 4–5 animals per group; ~ 4 wells of 24-well plate per animal; ****p < 0.001, One-way ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD)