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. 2020 Apr 16;40(6):1491–1509. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.120.314252

Figure 6.

Figure 6.

Galectin-3 can be cleaved by MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-12 indicating a potential novel regulatory mechanism. A, Representative Western blot images and quantification of human recombinant galectin-3. A cleaved fragment of 22 kDa can be visualized in response to coincubation with human recombinant MMP12 (100 nM); n=4/group; *P<0.05 compared with control and pro-MMP12, and #P<0.05 compared with active MMP12; Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric ANOVA. B, Representative Western blot images and quantification of galectin-3 protein levels in conditioned media from human monocyte-derived macrophages treated with either human recombinant TIMP (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase)-3 (10 nM) or a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor BB94 (20 nM); n=4/group; *P<0.05, **P<0.01; 2-tailed Student t test. C, Quantification of galectin-3 plasma levels in atherosclerotic Mmp12+/+:Apoe−/− and Mmp12−/−:Apoe−/− male mice assessed by ELISA assay, which identifies both full-length and cleaved galectin-3 fragments; n=8/group; *P<0.05; 2-tailed Student t test. Quantification of (D) macrophages (CD [cluster of differentiation]-68 positive cells) and (E) galectin-3–positive macrophages, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, within brachiocephalic atherosclerotic plaques from Mmp12+/+:Apoe−/− and Mmp12−/−:Apoe−/− male mice; n=10/group; *P<0.05; 2-tailed Student t test. F, Correlation of MMP12-positive macrophages and galectin-3–positive macrophages in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions (R2=0.5003; P<0.0001; n=28; Pearson correlation test).