Fig. 2

Quantifying protein levels of some genes significantly altered between normal and COPD lungs. a Whole parenchymal lung tissues from non-smokers without COPD (n = 5) and former-smokers with COPD GOLD stage 3 or 4 (n = 7) were evaluated for protein expression of QKI by immunoblot analysis. The densitometry data (QKI/HPRT1) obtained from individual groups are expressed as mean ± SEM. ***p value < 0.0001. b Whole parenchymal lung tissues from the same groups as in (a) were evaluated for protein expression of IGFBP5 by immunoblot analysis. The densitometry data (IGFBP5/HPRT1) obtained from individual groups are expressed as mean ± SEM. ***p value < 0.0001. c QKI and IGFBP5 gene expression in whole lung parenchymal tissue obtained from subjects with various severities of emphysema