Fig. 3

Effect of SEA on pyroptosis in HSCs. a The expression levels of pro-caspase-1 and activated caspase-1 proteins in HSCs treated with different concentrations of SEA were determined by Western blot analysis. b Dose-dependent effects of SEA on the viability of HSCs. c The LDH activity in supernatant was analysed with an LDH cytotoxicity assay kit. d Double positivity for caspase-1 and nuclei (stained with PI) in SEA-stimulated HSCs was detected by flow cytometry, and the proportions of double-positive cells determined by statistical analysis are presented in the bar graph. N, primary HSCs isolated from normal mice; 25, 50 and 100, primary cultured HSCs exposed to 25 μg/ml, 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml SEA for 24 h, respectively. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 4). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001