Figure 2.

Higher MMP-2 expression and apoptosis characterize MFS thoracic aortic aneurysm. (A) Representative images of α-SMA, fibrillin-1, MMP-2 immunostainings and TUNEL assay in the tunica media of MFS and non-MFS thoracic aorta aneurysm (TAA) and control aorta. For TUNEL assay, only strongly positive condensed nuclei were counted (arrows). Scale bars equal to 100 μm. (B) Semiquantitative evaluations of immunoreactivity show increased MMP-2 expression and TUNEL⁺ cells/ mm² in MFS TAA compared with non-MFS and control aorta. MFS TAA (n = 20), non-MFS TAA (n = 20) and control aorta (n = 10). Average are reported as means ± SEM; * p < 0.05; ** p <0.01; *** p < 0.001; estimated by t-test. Abbreviations: AU, arbitrary units.