Fig. 3

Anti-dsDNA antibodies activated inflammasome by increasing the production of ROS. a Monocyte-derived macrophages from SLE patients were stimulated with anti-dsDNA antibodies for different duration and incubated with DHCF-DA. Anti-dsDNA antibodies increased the production of ROS in macrophages. b Monocyte-derived macrophages from SLE patients were stimulated with anti-dsDNA antibodies and incubated with Rhodamine 123. Anti-dsDNA antibodies decreased mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm) in macrophages. c Monocyte-derived macrophages from SLE patients were stimulated with anti-dsDNA antibodies and the expression of P2X7R and cathepsin-K was measured by western blot. There was no significant change in the expression of P2X7R and cathepsin-K when stimulated with anti-dsDNA antibodies. d, e The activation of inflammasome in macrophages was inhibited by mitochondrial-targeting Mito-TEMPO when stimulated with anti-dsDNA antibodies. Each experiment was repeated for three times. **p < 0.001. α-dsDNA anti-dsDNA antibodies