Figure 3. Detection of gelatinolytic
activity released by aortic segments and by isolated
macrophage-derived FCs. Gelatinolytic
activity released by abdominal aorta (Abd), thoracic aorta (Thr), and
aortic arch (Arch) was detected by SDS-PAGE zymography (white areas
indicate lysis of gelatin substrate, denoting presence of gelatinases).
Levels of total gelatinolytic activity, as well as
that of higher-molecular-weight activity indicative of MMP-9, were
consistently dependent on aortic region (Abd<Thr<Arch) and
paralleled extent of macrophage-rich lesions. The great
majority of gelatinolytic activity released in
culture by FCs isolated from aorta (aFC) and granuloma (gFC) run at
apparent molecular weight consistent with MMP-9. Same amount of
protein (20 µg) was loaded on each lane. Simultaneous
migration of prestained molecular weight markers (MWM) is indicated on
left in kilodaltons (kDa, kD).
