Fig. 5

Pharmacological activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in ankle joints reversed EA-induced anti-allodynia in gout model mice. A Molecular structure of NLRP3 inflammasome activator nigericin. B Schedule illustrating nigericin (NG)/vehicle application, PWT test and tissue collection. (C-E) Western blotting examination of protein expression NLRP3 (C), Caspase-1 (D) and IL-1β (E) in ankle joints of MSU + EA + Veh and MSU + EA + NG groups. F Time courses showing 50% PWT changes of ipsilateral hindpaws of MSU + EA + Veh and MSU + EA + NG group mice. G Normalized AUC analysis of panel F. n = 5–7 mice/group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. MSU + EA + Veh group