Figure 5
Immunoglobulins analysis and histological images of the aortic valves. (a) Content of immunoglobulins-related transcripts in aortic valve samples. (b) Quantification by RNA-Seq of immunoglobulins-related transcripts in control, no-CHIP, or CHIP samples. Lines indicate the mean with SEM, p values are referred to T-test comparisons between different groups. (c) Quantification by qRT-PCR of representative immunoglobulins transcripts in RNA extracted from No-CHIP and CHIP samples. (d) Representative images of aortic valves of controls, No-CHIP, CHIP samples. Histological staining on the right shows the entire cusp after Russell-Movat pentachrome staining identifying elastin fibers (black), collagens (yellow), proteoglycans (blue), muscle (red), and cell nuclei (purple). Red squares indicate the areas corresponding to immunohistochemistry images. BAFF-R or CD138 (Syndecan-1) antibodies were used to stain activated B cells or plasma cells, respectively. Negative control sections (Blank) underwent the same procedure except for the primary antibody, which was omitted.
