Fig. 5

NLRP3 knockdown sensitizes OSCC cells to apoptosis. WSU-HN6 and CAL27 cells were transfected with NLRP3 shRNA or control shRNA. Apoptosis of WSU-HN6 (a) and CAL27 (c) cells with or without 5-FU treatment was determined by FACS. Apoptosis-related protein was determined by western blot (b and d). e rIL-1β administration reversed the increase of 5-FU-induced apoptosis in WSU-HN6 and CAL27 cells with NLRP3 knockdown. Results are representative of three experiments (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01)