Fig. 2

Increased expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and CSCs maker BMI1, ALDH1 and CD44 in Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO mice. a Representative IHC staining images of NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, IL-18, ALDH1, and BMI1 in wild-type (WT) mice tongue and Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO mice tumor (TSCC). Scale bars = 50 μm. (b, c and d) Pearson’s correlation coefficient test of BMI1 expression with NLRP3 (P < 0.01, r = 0.5791), Caspase-1(P < 0.05, r = 0.4699), ASC (P < 0.001, r = 0.6401) and IL-18 (P < 0.001, r = 0.6311); ALDH1 expression was statistically related to NLRP3 (P < 0.001, r = 0.6656), Caspase-1 (P < 0.05, r = 0.4307), ASC (P < 0.001, r = 0.6793) and IL-18 (P < 0.01, r = 0.6075) and CD44 expression was statistically related to NLRP3 (P < 0.01, r = 0.5334); Caspase-1 (P < 0.05, r = 0.421); ASC (P < 0.05, r = 0.5147); IL-18 (P < 0.01, r = 0.612) in 12 wild type mice tongues and 12 mice SCCHN. (e and f) Western blot analysis showed a significant increase in NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, BMI1, ALDH1 and CD44 in Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO mice than in the control group