Figure 8From: Inflammasome activation in airway epithelial cells after multi-walled carbon nanotube exposure mediates a profibrotic response in lung fibroblastsMWCNT- induced cell death (pyroptosis) mechanisms in primary HBE cells and its contribution in pro- fibrotic gene expression in fibroblasts. Internalization of MWCNT in HBE cells leads to lysosomal damage, release of cathepsin B, ROS production, NF-κB phosphorylation, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and their inhibition can successfully abolish MWCNT-induced toxicity. NLRP3 inflammasome derived factors from HBE cells induce pro-fibrotic (TN-C, TIMP-1, PC-1 and OPN) gene expression in MRC-5 cells.Back to article page