Figure 3.
High expression of mitochondria-encoded genes in ATII cells in emphysema. Freshly isolated ATII cells from nonsmokers (NS), smokers (SM), and emphysema patients EM) were used to assess mRNA expression of mitochondria-encoded (A) and nuclear-encoded (B) mitochondrial genes. Corresponding protein levels were determined by Western blotting (C), quantified, and normalized to β-actin expression (D). (E) Total cellular ATP levels in ATII cells are shown. (F) Ratio of glycolysis/OXPHOS ATP production in ATII cells was determined. (G) Cellular Ca2+ levels using Fluo-4 by flow cytometry analysis. (H) Data are shown as means ± s.e.m (N = 4–14 per group; * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001).