Celastrol alleviates esophageal stricture in rats by inhibiting NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 activation

Figure 3 NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 expression in rat esophageal fibroblasts in the narrowed esophagus. A: Representative Immunofluorescence image of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) and vimentin colocalization in the healthy esophagus (control) and fibrotic esophagus (model) in rats. Scale bar = 50 μm; B: Pearson correlation coefficient of NLRP3 and vimentin in the rat esophagus (presented as mean ± SE). Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t test, ^aP = 0.009; C: Immunohistochemistry of vimentin and cytokeratin 19 in primary rat esophageal fibroblasts (REFs). Scale bar = 500 μm; D: Western blot analysis and mRNA levels of collagen 1 in primary REFs transfected with control or NLRP3 overexpression lentiviral particles for 72 hours (presented as mean ± SE). Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t test. ^bP < 0.001; ^cP = 0.003; NLRP3: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3; NC: Negative control.