Fig 2: YSHXD protects renal tissues in UUO model rats (n = 6) by regulating pyroptosis. (a) Serum levels of inflammatory factors in UUO rats measured by ELISA (n = 6/group, one‑way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test); (b) representative immunohistochemical staining of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, and IL-1β in renal tissues (× 400 magnification); (c) quantification of the data shown in (b) (n = 6/group, one‑way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test); (d) protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, NF-κB, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-18, IL-1β, and IL-6 determined by immunoblotting; (e) quantification of the data shown in (d) (n = 6/group, one‑way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test). Data were represented as the mean ± SD. ****P < 0.0001 vs Sham group; ###P < 0.001 and ####P < 0.0001 vs Model group.

Fig 3: YSHXD inhibited pyroptosis and exerted anti-RF effects in HIK-2 cells. (a) Viability of HK-2 cells measured by CCK-8 assay (n = 6/group, one‑way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test) and images of HK-2 cell morphology (× 200 magnification); (b) levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, TNF-α and HGF in HK-2 cell culture supernatants measured by ELISA (n = 6/group, one‑way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test); (c) transcript levels of NLRP3, NF-κB, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-6 in TGF-β-induced HK-2 cells measured by RT-qPCR (n = 6/group, Welch ANOVA with Dunnett’s T3 post-hoc test); (d) protein levels of NLRP3, NF-κB, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-6 determined by Western blotting; (e) quantification of the data shown in (d) (n = 6/group, one‑way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test). Data were represented as the mean ± SD. ****P < 0.0001 vs Control group; ##P < 0.01 and ####P < 0.0001 vs Model group.