Figure 4

Examination of the decreased levels of some proteins in postsurgical sera compared with those in presurgical sera of both AAA and TAA patients, and restoration of their levels to those in normal control sera. Western blot analyses with anti-gelsolin (A,C), and anti-kallistatin (B,D), and anti-afamin (E) antibodies in presurgical (pre) and postsurgical (post) sera in 12 patients with AAA (A,B) and 10 patients with TAA (C-E) were performed as indicated by arrows. Representative photos of two each of patients concerning to each protein (patient no. #AAA15, #AAA16, #TAA9 and #TAA12 for gelsolin; #AAA9, #AAA10, #TAA15 and #TAA16 for kallistatin; #TAA11 and #TAA15 for afamin) as well as mixture of 10 normal control sera (N) are shown. To confirm equal levels of proteins per lane, non-specific proteins stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue are shown (CBB). The intensity of each band in presurgical and postsurgical sera of 12 AAA and 10 TAA patients and 10 normal control sera that reacted with each antibody was measured. Ratios of levels of each protein in presurgical and postsurgical sera and normal control sera compared with that in the mixture of 10 normal control sera (1.0) were determined by band intensity. Means ± SE of triplicate experiments were calculated, and statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test between presurgical and postsurgical data, whereas it was done using unpaired t-test between presurgical or postsurgical and normal control data. ** p < 0.01. * p < 0.05.