Fig. 4

TLR4-NF-κB signal pathway regulated the activation of inflammasome stimulated by anti-dsDNA antibodies. a SLE monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with anti-CD16/CD32/CD64 antibodies to block FcR before incubated with different concentrations of anti-dsDNA antibodies. Cells were then stained with TLR4 antibody. Data was acquired by flow cytometry. Anti-dsDNA antibodies bound to TLR4 as shown by the flow charts. b THP-1 cells were treated with TLR4-specific siRNA or scramble siRNA. The depletion of TLR4 was confirmed by flow cytometry. c, d THP-1 cells were stimulated with anti-dsDNA antibodies and the activation of inflammasome was measured by western blot. Anti-dsDNA antibodies stimulated the activation of inflammasome in THP-1 cells, which was inhibited by depleting TLR4 or by inhibition of NF-κB. Each experiment was repeated for three times. **p < 0.001. α-dsDNA anti-dsDNA antibodies