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

Figure 4 The effect of celastrol on NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 activation in primary rat esophageal fibroblasts. A: CCK8 assay of celastrol (CEL) in primary rat esophageal fibroblasts (REFs) (presented as mean ± SE). Statistical analysis was performed using Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. Compared with control, ^aP = 0.001; ^bP < 0.001; ^cP = 0.003; ^dP < 0.001; ^eP < 0.001; ^fP = 0.005; ^gP < 0.001; ^hP < 0.001; B: Western blot analysis of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), proCaspase1, Caspase1, pro-interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-1β in primary REFs treated as described (presented as mean ± SE). Statistical analysis was performed using Dunnett’s multiple comparison test, with the “lipopolysaccharide (LPS)” group as the control; ⁱP = 0.04; ^jP < 0.001; ^kP = 0.03; ^LP = 0.02; ^mP = 0.02; ⁿP = 0.03; ^oP = 0.04; ^pP = 0.03; C: mRNA levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β in primary REFs treated as described (presented as mean ± SE). Statistical analysis was performed using Dunnett’s multiple comparison test, with the “LPS” group as the control; ^qP = 0.002; ^rP < 0.001; ^sP = 0.03; ^tP < 0.001; ^uP = 0.009; ^vP = 0.009; ^wP = 0.009; NLRP3: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3; CEL: Celastrol; PRED: Prednisolone; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide.