Analysis of the ubiquitin proteasome system in atherosclerotic plaques.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Eight key genes in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0110288#pone-0110288-g003" target="_blank">figure 3B</a> were validated by TaqMan qPCR in 20 atherosclerotic plaques and 20 controls (n = 20). The results of the t test indicated they were all significantly modulated in advanced atherosclerotic plaques compared to the normal controls (p<0.05). The positive fold change indicated upregulation and negative fold change indicated downregulation. (<b>B</b>) The representative results of the Western Blot of some key genes in UPS in advanced atherosclerosis (AA) and normal controls (Ctrl), n = 5. (<b>C</b>) The representative Western Blot of the overall protein ubiquitination in Ctrl, early atherosclerosis (EA) and AA, n = 5. (<b>D</b>) The proteasome activity (chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like and caspase-like activity) in Ctrl, EA and AA was assayed. The three kinds of protease activities of proteasome in EA and AA groups were all normalized to the corresponding activity in Ctrl group. n = 5, P values were shown in the figure. (<b>E</b>) The concentration of 20S proteasome (the core subunit of proteasome) in Ctrl, EA and AA was determined. Its amount was calculated per mg total protein. P values were shown in the figure. n = 5. There was no significant difference between EA and AA.