Fig. 2

Altered NE and A1-PI in COPD sputum samples. a Representative western blot analysis for NE from 3 COPD subjects (003, 005, 007) during the course of exacerbation. C = Control, W1 = week 1, W5 = week 5–6. To compare the results graphically western blots were analyzed by densitometry and compared to an internal control sputum sample, which was set to 100 %. b Representative western blot for A1-PI from 3 COPD subjects (003, 005, 007) C = control; W1 = week 1 and W5 = week 5–6. To compare the results graphically western blots were analyzed by densitometry and compared to an internal control sputum sample, which was set to 100. c Analysis of sputum protease activity by zymogram. Sputum was obtained from 3 COPD subjects with an acute exacerbation within the first week (COPD-ex; week 1) and from the same subjects 5–6 weeks later (COPD-follow; week 5–6) n = 3