Fig. 7
Changes in α1-AT and α2-MG in BALF after instillation of whole gastric fluid. a Representative Western blot illustrating changes in BALF α1-AT immunoreactivity. Two bands in the 55–60 kDa, corresponding to the native antiprotease are seen. After instillation, an approximately 88-kDa band corresponding to the [α1-AT-elastase] complex and a 45–50 kDa band, corresponding to the proteolytic fragment derived from the interaction between α1-AT and elastase are present at 4 h, 12 h and 24 h. In addition, the immunoreactivity of the 55–60 kDa band increases markedly at these time-points. Ponceau staining was used as a loading control. b Densitometric analysis of five independent Western blots. Total α1-AT immunoreactivity increased 4.2 times over control values at 4 h, remained elevated up to 24 h and returned to control values at 4d. Proteolytic band immunoreactivity was present only between 4 h and 24 h. Open bars correspond to the means ± 1SD of densitometric arbitrary units of total α1-AT immunoreactivity. Hatched bars correspond to immunoreactivity of the α1-AT proteolytic band. c Changes in α1-AT bioactivity in BALF. Elastase inhibitory capacity increased 49 times over control values at 4 h, with a further increase to 58 times the control values at 24 h and returned to control levels at day 4. d Changes in α2-MG concentration in BALF. α2-MG concentration increased significantly at 12 h, with a peak at 24 h. At 4d, α2-MG concentration was back to control values. Results are means ± 1SD; *: p < 0.05; ***: p < 0.001 with respect to control values; ††: p < 0.01; †††: p < 0.001 with respect to 4 h. C: controls; h: hours; d: days