Fig. 1

Experimental design of the study. NLRP3−/− mice and WT mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups, respectively. As follows: Group 1 (n = 15): Vehicle control; Group 2 (n = 15): LPS; Group 3 (n = 35): B(a)p; Group 4 (n = 35): B(a)p plus LPS. NLRP3−/− mice and WT mice, 6–8 weeks old, were instilled intratracheally with B(a)p once a week for 4 times and instilled intratracheally with LPS once every three weeks for 5 times since Week 3. Thirty weeks after the week of the last dose of B(a)p, mice were anaesthesia by pentobarbital sodium