Fig. 2: High glucose activates the NLRP3 inflammasome through CD36 in HK-2 cells.

A, B The levels of CD36, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β protein expression in cultured HK-2 cells treated with HG (30 mM) at various time points were determined by western blot. C Immunofuorescence staining of CD36 in each group. D The mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β in cultured HK-2 cells treated with HG (30 mM) at various time points were determined by RT-PCR. E−G The levels of CD36, NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β protein expression were detected by western blot (E) and (or) ELISA (G) under NG, M, HG, HG + C, and HG + kCD36 conditions for 72 h. NG: 5.6 mM d-glucose; M: NG + 24.4 mM mannitol; HG: 30 mM d-glucose; HG + C: HG + LV3 empty vector (LV3-NC); HG + kCD36: HG + CD36 mutant vector (LV3-shRNA). Values are expressed as the mean ± SD of four independent experiments. **P < 0.01 versus the NG group; #P < 0.05, compared with the HG group by an ANOVA.