Figure 3.

Examination of the decreased level of α-2-macroglobulin in postsurgical sera compared with that in presurgical sera of both AAA and TAA patients, and restoration of its level to that in normal control sera. Western blsot analyses with anti-α-2-macroglobulin antibody in presurgical (pre) and postsurgical (post) sera of 12 patients with AAA (A) and 10 patients with TAA (B) were performed as indicated by arrows. Representative photos of two each of patients (patient no. #AAA11, #AAA13, #TAA10 and #TAA11) as well as a 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 anti-α-2-macroglobulin antibody was measured. Ratios of levels of α-2-macroglobulin 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 the paired t-test between presurgical and postsurgical data, whereas it was done using the unpaired t-test between postsurgical and normal control data. ** p < 0.01.