I-BRD9 Hamber overnight at RT with a primary antibody in the 0.1 BSA-Tris buffer. Anti-NDC1 rabbit polyclonal antibody (1/100 dilution), anti-Naringin Nup160 rabbit polyclonal antibody (1/50 dilution) and anti-Nup93 mouse monoclonal antibody (1/100 dilution) were used as primary detection antibodies separately. After rinses with 0.1 BSA-Tris buffer, the sections were incubated in a moist chamber for 1 h at 37uC with 0.1 BSA-Tris buffer (containing 0.05 Tween-20) and a goat anti-rabbit IgGgold antibody (10 nm, Sigma, 1/10 dilution) for NDC1 and Nup160, and a goat anti-mouse IgG-gold antibody (5 nm, Sigma, 1/10 dilution) for Nup93. After rinses with 0.1 BSA-Tris buffer and bi-distilled water, the sections were air dried and counterstained, first with uranyl acetate for 30 min and then with lead citrate for 30 sec. Finally, the grids were air dried completely. For electron microscopy observation a Philips CM-100 was used, with magnifications ranging X4500?5000. A quantitative stereological analysis of the photomicrographs was performed to quantify the numerical density and distribution of proteins by iTEM FEI program (v. 5.0, 2008, Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH).Statistical MethodsData are presented as the mean value 6 SD for continuous variables and as percentages for discrete variables. The Kolmogorov?Smirnov test was used to analyse the distribution of the variables. Comparisons of clinical characteristics were achieved using Student’s t-test for continuous variables and Fisher exact test for discrete variables. Comparisons of nuclear protein levels between different groups were performed using Student’s t-test for variables with a normal distribution and the Mann hitney U test for Table 2. Results of the expression of nuclear proteins in HF patients and controls.Controls (n = 9) NDC1 Nup155 Nup160 Nup153 Nup93 TPR 100619 100610 100620 100655 100625Patients (n = 88) 156657 112637 177693 2466180 160685p value ,0.0001 NS ,0.0001 ,0.0001 = 0.023 NSNDC1, Nuclear division cycle protein 1; Nup, nucleoporinas; TPR, translocated promoter region. The patients group includes ischaemic (ICM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048957.tFigure 2. Relationships between Nup160 and NDC1 levels. Subjects with ICM (A), DCM (B) and all patients (C). Values are normalized to b-actin and finally to CNT group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048957.gNuclear Pore Complex in Heart FailureFigure 3. Relationships between Nup160 levels and ventricular function parameters. A) LVEDD (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter), B) LVESD (left ventricular end-systolic diameter) in HF patients 1662274 group (ICM and DCM). Values are normalized to b-actin and finally to CNT group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048957.gvariables with a non-normal distribution. Nup93 concentrations exhibited a non-normal distribution and were log transformed (and proved to be normalized) before parametric correlation analysis. Finally, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was performed to analyse the association between variables. Significance wasassumed as p,0.05. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software v. 11.5 for Windows (SPSS Inc.).Nuclear Pore Complex in Heart FailureNuclear Pore Complex in Heart FailureFigure 4. Effect of heart failure on cell distribution of some nucleoporins in left ventricular human cardiomyocytes. Inmunofluorescence staining with and without DAPI of NDC1, Nup160 and Nup93 according to heart failure aetiology, control (CNT) (Figure A,C and E, flu.Hamber overnight at RT with a primary antibody in the 0.1 BSA-Tris buffer. Anti-NDC1 rabbit polyclonal antibody (1/100 dilution), anti-Nup160 rabbit polyclonal antibody (1/50 dilution) and anti-Nup93 mouse monoclonal antibody (1/100 dilution) were used as primary detection antibodies separately. After rinses with 0.1 BSA-Tris buffer, the sections were incubated in a moist chamber for 1 h at 37uC with 0.1 BSA-Tris buffer (containing 0.05 Tween-20) and a goat anti-rabbit IgGgold antibody (10 nm, Sigma, 1/10 dilution) for NDC1 and Nup160, and a goat anti-mouse IgG-gold antibody (5 nm, Sigma, 1/10 dilution) for Nup93. After rinses with 0.1 BSA-Tris buffer and bi-distilled water, the sections were air dried and counterstained, first with uranyl acetate for 30 min and then with lead citrate for 30 sec. Finally, the grids were air dried completely. For electron microscopy observation a Philips CM-100 was used, with magnifications ranging X4500?5000. A quantitative stereological analysis of the photomicrographs was performed to quantify the numerical density and distribution of proteins by iTEM FEI program (v. 5.0, 2008, Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH).Statistical MethodsData are presented as the mean value 6 SD for continuous variables and as percentages for discrete variables. The Kolmogorov?Smirnov test was used to analyse the distribution of the variables. Comparisons of clinical characteristics were achieved using Student’s t-test for continuous variables and Fisher exact test for discrete variables. Comparisons of nuclear protein levels between different groups were performed using Student’s t-test for variables with a normal distribution and the Mann hitney U test for Table 2. Results of the expression of nuclear proteins in HF patients and controls.Controls (n = 9) NDC1 Nup155 Nup160 Nup153 Nup93 TPR 100619 100610 100620 100655 100625Patients (n = 88) 156657 112637 177693 2466180 160685p value ,0.0001 NS ,0.0001 ,0.0001 = 0.023 NSNDC1, Nuclear division cycle protein 1; Nup, nucleoporinas; TPR, translocated promoter region. The patients group includes ischaemic (ICM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048957.tFigure 2. Relationships between Nup160 and NDC1 levels. Subjects with ICM (A), DCM (B) and all patients (C). Values are normalized to b-actin and finally to CNT group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048957.gNuclear Pore Complex in Heart FailureFigure 3. Relationships between Nup160 levels and ventricular function parameters. A) LVEDD (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter), B) LVESD (left ventricular end-systolic diameter) in HF patients 1662274 group (ICM and DCM). Values are normalized to b-actin and finally to CNT group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048957.gvariables with a non-normal distribution. Nup93 concentrations exhibited a non-normal distribution and were log transformed (and proved to be normalized) before parametric correlation analysis. Finally, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was performed to analyse the association between variables. Significance wasassumed as p,0.05. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software v. 11.5 for Windows (SPSS Inc.).Nuclear Pore Complex in Heart FailureNuclear Pore Complex in Heart FailureFigure 4. Effect of heart failure on cell distribution of some nucleoporins in left ventricular human cardiomyocytes. Inmunofluorescence staining with and without DAPI of NDC1, Nup160 and Nup93 according to heart failure aetiology, control (CNT) (Figure A,C and E, flu.