Fig. 8
ZnONPs and UVB activate the NLRP3 inflammasome-induced pyroptosis in the skin. A H&E histology of mouse skin at 72 h after the acute inflammation test with ZnONPs and UVB showed dermal swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration (red arrows). ZnONPs and UVB treatment significantly increased the dermal thickness, as shown by H&E staining A, C. PT treatment significantly suppressed ZnONP- and UVB-induced increases in dermal thickness (scale bar represents 200 μm). Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in SKH:HR-1 mice treated with control (untreated), ZnONPs (2 mg), UVB (150 mJ/cm2) and PT (100 µM) alone or in different combinations. B Epidermis thickness in mice treated with control (untreated), ZnONPs (2 mg), UVB (150 mJ/cm2) and PT (100 µM) alone or in different combinations. D–G The expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis proteins NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1 and GSDMD following exposure to ZnONPs (2 mg), UVB (150 mJ/cm2) and PT (100 µM). Values are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 3). *p < 0.05, control group versus treatment groups. #p < 0.05, the UVB + ZnONPs groups versus the UVB + ZnONPs + PT groups