Change in elastin structure in human aortic connective tissue diseases

Biochemical pathogenesis of the aortic connective tissue diseases (such as, Marfan's syndrome, dissecting aneurysm or aortic aneurysm) was examined by estimating glycoprotein, collagen and elastin contents in the aorta and the intramolecular cross-linking component (isodesmosine) and the intermolecular cross-linking components (cystine, histidinoalanine) in comparison with the control samples obtained from subjects with aortic regurgitation. The elastin content in the aorta and isodesmosine content obtained from the extract of the aortic sample found to be decreased. Ratio of cysteine residues (Cys/Cys-Cys) in the elastin fraction in disease increased. Content of histidinoalanine was found to be decreased. It may be suggested that elastin is maintained in its native nature and shape by intra- and inter-molecular cross-linking bridges, and they are readily denatured by various disease conditions. After elastin was solubilized by elastase, immunoreactive elastin content in those aortic diseases was found to be increased in the human connective tissue. Serum elastase and elastase-like activities tend to increase more than those in the control. These findings may suggest that the change in the structure of elastin would make more susceptible to elastase and other proteolytic enzymes. The reasonable hypothesis may be that molecular defect of fibillin or other constitutional structural glycoproteins produce deficient and functionally incompetent elastin associated microfibrils, and the defect of microfibrils cause to insufficient intra- and inter-molecular cross-links in elastin.