Each sample were determined by normalizing with the 18S ribosomal RNA

Each sample were determined by normalizing with the 18S ribosomal RNA levels. The sequences of the primers for Notch1 used in real-time PCR were as follows: forward primer 59-GCAGTTGTGCTCCTGAAGAA-39; reverse primer 59-CGGGCGGCCAGAAAC-39.Double immunofluorescence stainingFor double immunofluorescence staining, paraffin-embedded tissues were cut into 4 mm sections, deparaffinized, rehydrated, and then subjected to antigen retrieval. Tissue sections were incubated with primary antibodies overnight at 4uC, followed by incubation with secondary antibodies for 1 hour at room temperature. The nuclei were counterstained for visualization with 49, 6- diamidino-2-phenylindole. The primary antibodies used were anti-Stro-1 (R D Systems, Minneapolis, MN), antiCD34 (Cell Signaling Technology), anti-SM22-a (Abcam, Cambridge, MA), anti-ER-TR7 (Santa Cruz 1948-33-0 Biotechnology), antiCD68 (Abcam), anti-Notch1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), antiactivated Notch1 (Abcam), anti-Jagged1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), anti-Delta (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), and anti-Hes1 (EMD Millipore). Table 2 provides detailed information on the primary antibodies. The secondary antibodies used were Alexa Fluor 488-, Alexa Fluor 568-, and Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin G (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). Slides treated with normal immunoglobulin G only were used as negative controls. Quantification of the staining results was performed by randomly selecting 4 fields in each slide (n = 4 in each group), and counting target cells at a magnification of 6600 using the software ImagePro Plus 6.0 (Media Cybernetics, Bethesda, MD).Table 1. Patient characteristics.aCharacteristicsControl (n = 12)TAA (n = 14) 64.865.5 6 (43 ) 14 (100 ) 13 (93 ) 2 (14 ) 5 (36 ) 6.460.TAD (n = 16) 63.865.6 11 (69 ) 12 (75 ) 16 (100 ) 1 (6 ) 5 (31 ) 6.361.pValues 0.07 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.2 0.5 0.Age (y) Men History of smoking Hypertension Diabetes mellitus Taking anti-lipid medication59.168.2 4 (33 ) 6 (50 ) 6 (50 ) 4 (33 ) 2 (17 )Aortic diameter at sample site NA (cm)a Age and aortic diameter were compared by using KDM5A-IN-1 site one-way analysis of variance. All other variables were compared by using Pearson’s chi-squared test. NA = not applicable; TAA = thoracic aortic aneurysm; TAD = thoracic aortic dissection. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052833.tNotch Signaling in Aortic Aneurysm and DissectionTable 2. Primary antibodies used in the study.Antibody Anti-cleaved Notch1 (D3B8) Anti-Notch1 (D6F11)Source 4147 Cell Signaling 4380 Cell SignalingHost Rabbit RabbitSpecificity Cleaved Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) (,110 kDa) Full-length (,300 kDa) and the transmembrane/intracellular region NTM (,120 kDa) Human Stro-1 Total CD34 protein SM22-a SM22-a Fibroblasts Macrophage antigen CD68 C-terminus of Notch 1 Cleaved Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) Jagged1 Delta-like 1 and Dleta-like 4 (DLL1/4) Hes-Application WB WBAnti-Stro-1 Anti-CD34 (ICO115) Anti-SM22-a Anti-SM22-a Anti-ER-TR7 Anti-CD68 Anti-Notch1 (C-20) Anti-activated Notch1 Anti-Jagged1 (C-20) Anti-Delta (C-20) Anti-HesMAB1038 R D 3569 Cell Signaling ab14106 abcam ab10135 abcam sc-73355 Santa Cruz ab955 Abcam sc-6014 Santa Cruz ab8925 Abcam sc-6011 Santa Cruz sc-8155 Santa Cruz AB5702 MilliporeMouse Mouse Rabbit Goat Rat Mouse Goat Rabbit Goat Goat RabbitIF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IHC, IFWB = western blot; IF = immunofluorescence staining; IHC = immunohistochemistry. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052833.tStatistical analysisAll quantitative data are presented as the mea.Each sample were determined by normalizing with the 18S ribosomal RNA levels. The sequences of the primers for Notch1 used in real-time PCR were as follows: forward primer 59-GCAGTTGTGCTCCTGAAGAA-39; reverse primer 59-CGGGCGGCCAGAAAC-39.Double immunofluorescence stainingFor double immunofluorescence staining, paraffin-embedded tissues were cut into 4 mm sections, deparaffinized, rehydrated, and then subjected to antigen retrieval. Tissue sections were incubated with primary antibodies overnight at 4uC, followed by incubation with secondary antibodies for 1 hour at room temperature. The nuclei were counterstained for visualization with 49, 6- diamidino-2-phenylindole. The primary antibodies used were anti-Stro-1 (R D Systems, Minneapolis, MN), antiCD34 (Cell Signaling Technology), anti-SM22-a (Abcam, Cambridge, MA), anti-ER-TR7 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), antiCD68 (Abcam), anti-Notch1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), antiactivated Notch1 (Abcam), anti-Jagged1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), anti-Delta (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), and anti-Hes1 (EMD Millipore). Table 2 provides detailed information on the primary antibodies. The secondary antibodies used were Alexa Fluor 488-, Alexa Fluor 568-, and Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin G (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). Slides treated with normal immunoglobulin G only were used as negative controls. Quantification of the staining results was performed by randomly selecting 4 fields in each slide (n = 4 in each group), and counting target cells at a magnification of 6600 using the software ImagePro Plus 6.0 (Media Cybernetics, Bethesda, MD).Table 1. Patient characteristics.aCharacteristicsControl (n = 12)TAA (n = 14) 64.865.5 6 (43 ) 14 (100 ) 13 (93 ) 2 (14 ) 5 (36 ) 6.460.TAD (n = 16) 63.865.6 11 (69 ) 12 (75 ) 16 (100 ) 1 (6 ) 5 (31 ) 6.361.pValues 0.07 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.2 0.5 0.Age (y) Men History of smoking Hypertension Diabetes mellitus Taking anti-lipid medication59.168.2 4 (33 ) 6 (50 ) 6 (50 ) 4 (33 ) 2 (17 )Aortic diameter at sample site NA (cm)a Age and aortic diameter were compared by using one-way analysis of variance. All other variables were compared by using Pearson’s chi-squared test. NA = not applicable; TAA = thoracic aortic aneurysm; TAD = thoracic aortic dissection. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052833.tNotch Signaling in Aortic Aneurysm and DissectionTable 2. Primary antibodies used in the study.Antibody Anti-cleaved Notch1 (D3B8) Anti-Notch1 (D6F11)Source 4147 Cell Signaling 4380 Cell SignalingHost Rabbit RabbitSpecificity Cleaved Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) (,110 kDa) Full-length (,300 kDa) and the transmembrane/intracellular region NTM (,120 kDa) Human Stro-1 Total CD34 protein SM22-a SM22-a Fibroblasts Macrophage antigen CD68 C-terminus of Notch 1 Cleaved Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) Jagged1 Delta-like 1 and Dleta-like 4 (DLL1/4) Hes-Application WB WBAnti-Stro-1 Anti-CD34 (ICO115) Anti-SM22-a Anti-SM22-a Anti-ER-TR7 Anti-CD68 Anti-Notch1 (C-20) Anti-activated Notch1 Anti-Jagged1 (C-20) Anti-Delta (C-20) Anti-HesMAB1038 R D 3569 Cell Signaling ab14106 abcam ab10135 abcam sc-73355 Santa Cruz ab955 Abcam sc-6014 Santa Cruz ab8925 Abcam sc-6011 Santa Cruz sc-8155 Santa Cruz AB5702 MilliporeMouse Mouse Rabbit Goat Rat Mouse Goat Rabbit Goat Goat RabbitIF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IHC, IFWB = western blot; IF = immunofluorescence staining; IHC = immunohistochemistry. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052833.tStatistical analysisAll quantitative data are presented as the mea.