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. 2020 Mar 30;9(7):e014044. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.014044

Figure 6.

Figure 6

Association between matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP‐9) activation and the nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain–like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)–caspase‐1 inflammasome in human sporadic ascending aortic aneurysm and dissection tissues. Aortic tissues from patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) without dissection, patients with chronic ascending thoracic aortic dissection (ATAD), and organ donors (controls) were analyzed. A, Representative Western blot data showing that the NLRP3–caspase‐1 inflammasome and MMP‐9 were activated in the aortic wall of patients with ATAA and those with ATAD. B, Immunostaining showing the colocalization of NLRP3 and caspase‐1 with MMP‐9 in the macrophages (CD68) of ATAD tissues. C, Results of coimmunoprecipitation experiments showing that caspase‐1 was bound to MMP‐9 in ATAA and ATAD tissues. Data are presented as mean±SEM. One‐way ANOVA with the post hoc Tukey test was used for pairwise comparisons. DAPI indicates 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole; IP, immunoprecipitation; TAA, thoracic aortic aneurysm; TAD, thoracic aortic dissection.