Fig. 6

Effects of NLRP3 depletion on global force, resistance and muscle injury in mdx mice. Four groups of mice were used: mdx mice that were also deficient for Nlrp3 (mdx/Nlrp3-KO), regular mdx (mdx), Nlrp3-KO mice and WT ones. Several functional in vivo studies were carried out. a The animals were lowered on a grid connected to a sensor to measure the muscle force of both fore- and hindlimbs; data were then expressed in gram-force relative to body weight. b Mice were next subjected to a wire test where they were suspended by their forelimbs and the time until they completely released the wire and fell down was recorded. c Mice were also submitted to a downhill treadmill exercise for 10 min; the covered distance (metres) was measured for each mouse, 100 m being the maximal distance. d Muscle injury was assessed by plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity measured in the basal state and expressed as IU/L. Results are means ± SEM for eight to twelve mice per group. ##P < 0.01, ###P < 0.001 vs WT; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 for the indicated conditions