Fig. 2

Expression of NLRP3 in ESCs and CSCs. (A) Relative mRNA expression level of NLRP3 was quantified using qRT-PCR. Expression levels are shown relative to those of GAPDH. Data are shown as mean ± SEM of assays conducted in duplicate on samples obtained from patients; ESCsn (n = 6), ESCs (n = 6), and CSCs (n = 6). (B) The protein levels of NLRP3 in ESCs and CSCs were assessed using western blot. β-actin was used as a protein loading control. These results are representative of three independent experiments. (C) The relative protein levels of NLRP3 were quantified. Protein levels are shown relative to those of β-actin in each group. Data are shown as mean ± SEM from patients; ESCs (n = 6) and CSCs (n = 5). (D) Relative mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, NLRP1, and NLRC4 were quantified. Expression levels are shown relative to those of GAPDH. Data are shown as mean ± SEM of assays conducted in duplicate on samples obtained from patients; ESCs (n = 4) and CSCs (n = 5). Statistical significances were calculated using Student’s t-test (A and C) and one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison test (D). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; n.s., not significant; ESCsn, eutopic endometrium-derived stromal cells, without endometriosis; ESCs, eutopic endometrium-derived stromal cells, with endometriosis; CSCs, ovarian endometriosis (chocolate cyst)-derived stromal cells