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Figure 1 Expression and quantitative analysis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs). Confocal micrographs showing typical staining patterns of MMPs, an example is MMP-1 fluorescence (green) in control (A) and diseased myocardium (B and C). Note that in the control myocardium, MMP-1 is localized mainly in the interstitial cells and signal occupies restricted areas of the extracellular matrix whereas diseased myocardium showed larger areas of MMP-1. Nuclei are stained blue with TOTO3. (D) Quantitative immunofluorescent data of MMPs and TIMPs are expressed as percent increase in aortic stenosis groups compared to controls. All analyzed MMPs and TIMPs demonstrate a trend to be increased with hypertrophy progression.