Fig. 4.

PD-1 and CD69 are highly expressed in inflamed human arteries. A PD-1 and CD69 mRNA levels were measured in inflamed abdominal aortic samples (IAA) from patients undergoing open repair surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 49) and healthy abdominal aortic samples (HAA) from donors (n = 11). Data are expressed as mean ± SD *P < 0.05 (Mann–Whitney test). (right panel) Statistically significant positive correlation between CD69 mRNA levels and those corresponding to PD-1 in inflamed aortic samples from patients. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation was applied. B CD69, PD-1 and NR4A3 protein levels were evaluated by western blot in aortic lysates from IAA and HAA samples. Representative immunoblots are shown. C NR4A3 mRNA levels assessed in the samples described in A). Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05 (Mann–Whitney test). D Immunohistochemical analysis of CD69, PD-1 and NR4A3 in haematoxylin counterstained sections from IAA and HAA samples. The indicated areas are shown at high magnification (middle panels). Bar: 100 µm (upper and lower panels) and 50 µm (middle panels). Negative controls in which the primary antibody was omitted are shown on the right