Fig 2: Dependence of CIRP-induced chondrocyte damage on TLR4/NF-κB signaling. (A) Cytotoxicity of BAY 11-7082 and TAK-242 on chondrocytes at various concentration for 48 h, assessed using a CCK-8 assay. (B and C) Western blotting showing the protein expression of IκBα in chondrocytes and p65 in the nucleus of chondrocytes following treatment with the two inhibitors. (D and E) Western blotting showing the protein expression NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, ASC and IL-1β following treatment with the two inhibitors. (F and G) Western blotting showing the expression of extracellular matrix proteins in chondrocytes following treatment with the two inhibitors. n=3, *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. CIRP, cold-inducible RNA-binding protein; TLR4, Toll-like receptor 4; NLRP3, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3; Cle, cleaved.