ALDH2 deficiency in pancreatic acinar cells aggravates acute pancreatitis by promoting NLRP3 inflammasome activation through autophagy

Figure 6 Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 deficiency exacerbated the accumulation of autophagic substrates in caerulein-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells. MPC-83 cells were transfected with aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2)-siRNA and NC-siRNA. The induction of acute pancreatitis (AP) was established by caerulein (100 nM) treatment. A and B: Immunoblot analysis of P62 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (LC3B) for cells in each group (n = 3 per group); C-F: Immunofluorescence analysis of P62 and LC3B for cells in each group (n = 3 per group). Scale bar: 20 μm, magnification, 10 μm; G and H: Representative transmission electron microscopy images and quantitative analysis of cells in each group. Arrows denote autophagic vesicles. Scale bar: 1 μm. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01. NS: Not significant; LC3B: Light chain 3B; ALDH2: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2; CER: Caerulein.