Fig. 1

Nicotine induces pyroptosis in THP-1 macrophages. (A) Detection of cell viability (CCK-8 assay) after 24 h of exposure to different nicotine concentrations. (B-C) Dose-dependent mRNA expression of pyroptosis-related factors in untreated (control) and nicotine-treated macrophages (24 h exposure). (D) Dose-dependent expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in untreated (control) and nicotine-treated macrophages (24 h exposure). (D) Time-dependent expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in untreated (control) and nicotine-treated macrophages (1 µM). (F) ELISA results showing the secretion of IL-18 and IL-1β by macrophages treated with different nicotine concentrations for 24 h. (G) Effect of 1 µM nicotine on NLRP3 and ASC immunofluorescence in THP-1 macrophages (scale bar: 20 μm). Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 3 represents three independent experiments per group); ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, and ^***P < 0.001 vs. control cells