Fig. 3.

Increased expression of TGF-β in inflammatory dilative cardiomyopathy is attenuated by elevated PAI-1 levels. a, b Relative TGF-β mRNA (a) and protein (b) levels in endomyocardial biopsies of patients diagnosed for dilative cardiomyopathy (DCM) or inflammatory dilative cardiomyopathy (DCMi). DCMi group were clustered into low-grade inflammation (DCMi-low, CD3 + lymphocytes = 14–30/mm²) and high-grade inflammation (DCMi-high, CD3 + lymphocytes > 30/mm²). Data are represented as mean ± SEM (n = 7–12 patients per group). *p ≤ 0.05 as indicated. c Representative photomicrographs immunostained with anti-TGF-β antibody. Magnification: ×400. Scale bar: 20 µm