Fig. 4

Decitabine (DAC) combined with 5-FU@HFn to induce CML cell pyroptosis. (A) Morphological observations of CML cells in each drug treatment group were conducted via microscopy. The yellow arrow indicates pyroptotic cells. Scale bar: 10 μm. (B) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe membrane changes in pyroptotic cells in the DAC + 5-FU@HFn treatment group. Scale bar: 1 μm. (C) Western blot assays were utilized to assess cleaved PARP (C-PARP), cleaved caspase-3 (C-Casp3), and GSDME-N protein expression levels. (D) Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release rates (%), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels (gp/mL), and IL-1β levels (pg/mL) in each group were analyzed. (E) After inhibition of caspase-3 activity by Z-DEVD-FMK in the DAC + 5-FU@HFn group, pyroptotic cells were observed under a microscope, as indicated by the yellow arrow. Scale bar: 10 μm. (F) Western blot analysis was performed to assess the expression levels of C-Casp3 and GSDME-N in the DAC + 5-FU@HFn group treated with Z-DEVD-FMK. All the data are presented as the means ± SDs. ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, **** P < 0.0001, ns: not significant