Inhibiting purinergic or inflammasome signaling protects from EV-induced PE. (A-B) Inflammasome inhibition using apyrase, oATP, or anakinra protects mice from EV-induced placental and fetal impairment. Representative images (A) showing uterus (top), placentae (middle), or embryos (bottom) obtained from control (C) or EV-injected (EV) pregnant mice without or with treatment (apyrase, oATP, or anakinra) and quantification of embryonic survival (B). Size bar represents 1 mm. (C) Injections with apyrase, oATP, or anakinra reduce plasma sFlt-1 levels in EV-injected pregnant mice; bar graph summarizing results. (D-E) Immunoblots showing reduced cleaved Casp-1 and IL-1β and NLRP3 expression indicating inhibition of EV-induced inflammasome activation in murine placentae after apyrase or oATP treatment (D, representative immunoblots; E, bar graph summarizing results). Arrowheads indicate inactive (proform, white arrowheads) and the active (cleaved form, black arrowheads) form of Casp-1 or IL-1β, respectively (D). Only the active form was quantified (E). Data shown represent at least 8 placentae or embryos analyzed from 3 different litters or 5 pregnant females of each group; control mice (C) were injected with the supernatant obtained after the last PBS wash during EV isolation. Mean ± SEM. *P < .05 (relative to C); #P < .05 (relative to EV). (E) ANOVA.