Figure 6

The inflammasomes are activated in the bone environment in response to cues released during bone resorption. RANKL was administrated (1 µg/kg, daily, for 2 days) to WT or Nlrp3 ^−/− 3-month old male mice. (a) Percentage of FLICA⁺ cells in whole bone marrow cells determined by flow cytometry (n = 5–7 mice/group); *p = 0.0225. (b) IL-1β production in bone marrow (n = 6–16 mice/group); *p = 0.0126 (multiple t-test and Holm-Sidak). (c and d) WT 3-month old mice were given 40 µg/kg zoledronate or PBS once a week for 4 weeks before RANKL treatment (n = 5 mice/group). Bones were analyzed by µCT. BV/TV: *p = 0.0274; BMD: *p = 0.0351. (e) FLICA⁺ bone marrow cells (n = 5 mice/group). *p = 0.0275 for the PBS group; *p = 0.0408 for the zoledronate group. (f) IL-1β release in bone marrow (n = 5 mice/group). *p = 0.0286.