Journal: International Journal of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention

Article Title: The sphingolipid metabolite sphingosine protects against hypertension by targeting metabolic-inflammatory crosstalk via the NLRP3 inflammasome

doi: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200562

Figure Lengend Snippet: SPH attenuates pathological changes and suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the hearts of hypertensive mice. (A, B) Masson's trichrome staining of heart (A) and aorta (B) sections, showing reduced collagen deposition (blue) with SPH treatment. Scale bars: 20 μm for heart, 50 μm (main) and 20 μm (inset) for aorta. (C) H&E staining of heart sections showing amelioration of myocardial disarray and inflammation. Scale bars: 500 μm (main) and 20 μm (inset).(D) ELISA quantification of serum IL-18 and IL-1β levels. Data are mean ± SEM. ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01, ∗∗∗P < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗P < 0.0001 vs. HBP group. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)

Article Snippet: Serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were quantified using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (IL-18: Lianke, Cat#EK218-96; IL-1β: Lianke, Cat# EK201BHS-96) according to the manufacturers' instructions.

Techniques: Activation Assay, Staining, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Journal: International Journal of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention

Article Title: The sphingolipid metabolite sphingosine protects against hypertension by targeting metabolic-inflammatory crosstalk via the NLRP3 inflammasome

doi: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200562

Figure Lengend Snippet: SPH mitigates Angiotensin II-induced inflammasome activation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in HUVECs. (A, B) Representative immunofluorescence images showing increased expression of NLRP3 (red, A) and ASC (green, B) in AngII-treated cells, which is reduced by subsequent SPH treatment. Scale bar = 100 μm. (C) TUNEL assay (green) demonstrating increased apoptosis in AngII-treated cells, which is attenuated by SPH. Scale bar = 100 μm. (D, E) Biochemical assays showing that SPH or MCC950 treatment reverses the AngII-induced decrease in SOD1 activity (G).NO (H) and increase in MDA levels (D). (F, G) DCFH-DA staining showing increased intracellular ROS (green) after AngII treatment, which is suppressed by SPH or MCC950. Representative images (F) and quantification (E) are shown. (I, J) ELISA results showing that SPH or MCC950 treatment inhibits the AngII-induced secretion of IL-1β (I) and IL-18 (J). (K) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showing that SPH or MCC950 treatment improves the cell surface morphology and reduces features of pyroptotic damage induced by AngII. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)

Article Snippet: Serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were quantified using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (IL-18: Lianke, Cat#EK218-96; IL-1β: Lianke, Cat# EK201BHS-96) according to the manufacturers' instructions.

Techniques: Activation Assay, Immunofluorescence, Expressing, TUNEL Assay, Activity Assay, Staining, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Electron Microscopy