Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Implantation of Fibrin Gel on Mouse Lung to Study Lung-specific Angiogenesis

Implantation of Fibrin Gel on Mouse Lung to Study Lung-specific Angiogenesis

Published on: December 21, 2014

Levels of circulating MMP-7 degraded elastin are elevated in pulmonary disorders

J H Kristensen¹, L Larsen², B Dasgupta³

¹Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark; The Technical University of Denmark, Department of Systems Biology, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.

Clinical Biochemistry

|July 13, 2015

Abstract

Objectives:

Elastin is a signature protein of the lungs. Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is important in lung defence mechanisms and degrades elastin. However, MMP-7 activity in regard to elastin degradation has never been quantified serologically in patients with lung diseases. An assay for the quantification of MMP-7 generated elastin fragments (ELM7) was therefore developed to investigate MMP-7 derived elastin degradation in pulmonary disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer.

Design And Methods:

Monoclonal antibodies (mABs) were raised against eight carefully selected MMP-7 cleavage sites on elastin. After characterisation and validation of the mABs, one mAB targeting the ELM7 fragment was chosen. ELM7 fragment levels were assessed in serum samples from patients diagnosed with IPF (n=123, baseline samples, CTgov reg. NCT00786201), and lung cancer (n=40) and compared with age- and sex-matched controls.

Results:

The ELM7 assay was specific towards in vitro MMP-7 degraded elastin and the ELM7 neoepitope but not towards other MMP-7 derived elastin fragments. Serum ELM7 levels were significantly increased in IPF (113%, p<0.0001) and lung cancer (96%, p<0.0001) compared to matched controls.

Conclusions:

MMP-7-generated elastin fragments can be quantified in serum and may reflect pathological lung tissue turnover in several important lung diseases.

Keywords:

Elastin Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Immunology Lung carcinoma Matrilysin Metalloproteinases Pulmonology

More Related Videos

Bacterial Expression and Purification of Human Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 using Affinity Chromatography

Bacterial Expression and Purification of Human Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 using Affinity Chromatography

Published on: March 30, 2022

Measuring Global Cellular Matrix Metalloproteinase and Metabolic Activity in 3D Hydrogels

Measuring Global Cellular Matrix Metalloproteinase and Metabolic Activity in 3D Hydrogels

Published on: January 22, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Role of Matrix Metalloproteases in Degradation of ECM

Role of Matrix Metalloproteases in Degradation of ECM

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of proteins and glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix. MMPs are essential for the migration and proliferation of cells through the dense matrix network, throughout embryonic development, and throughout morphogenesis. The first MMP activity discovered was a collagenase in a tadpole's tail undergoing metamorphosis. The active collagen deposition and modifications lead to the morphogenesis of tadpoles into the adult...

Extracellular Matrix

Extracellular Matrix

Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. This extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of fibrous proteins like collagen, elastin, and fibronectin in a ground substance consisting of interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans form a gel-like material in the spaces between cells and provide hydration, buffering, binding, and force...

The Extracellular Matrix

The Extracellular Matrix

The Extracellular Matrix

The Extracellular Matrix

Overview
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...

Elastin is Responsible for Tissue Elasticity

Elastin is Responsible for Tissue Elasticity

Elastic fiber contains the protein elastin along with lesser amounts of other proteins and glycoproteins. The main property of elastin is that it will return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed. Elastic fibers are prominent in elastic tissues found in skin and the elastic ligaments of the vertebral column.
Ligaments and tendons are made of dense regular connective tissue, but in ligaments not all fibers are parallel. Dense regular elastic tissue contains elastin fibers and...

Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina

Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina

Type IV collagen is a 400 nm long, network-forming collagen that acts as a barrier between the epithelial and endothelial cells. Type IV collagen forms the backbone of the basement membrane by scaffolding with laminin, entactin, proteoglycans, and fibronectin. Apart from rendering structural support to the basement membrane, it also helps entail signaling potentials necessary for both pathological and physiological functions.
A type IV collagen molecule has six alpha chains which can...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Functional Outcome and Complications in Management of Proximal Humerus Fractures Operated with Proximal Humerus Locking Plate.

Malaysian orthopaedic journal·2021

The association of pain and stiffness with fatigue in incident polymyalgia rheumatica: baseline results from the polymyalgia rheumatica cohort study.

Primary health care research & development·2020

A serological marker of the N-terminal neoepitope generated during LOXL2 maturation is elevated in patients with cancer or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Biochemistry and biophysics reports·2018

Perspectives and unmet needs in polymyalgia rheumatica. Providing the fundamental framework for the development of new treatment regimes in polymyalgia rheumatica.

Reumatismo·2018

Cathepsin-S degraded decorin are elevated in fibrotic lung disorders - development and biological validation of a new serum biomarker.

BMC pulmonary medicine·2017

Association between characteristics of pain and stiffness and the functional status of patients with incident polymyalgia rheumatica from primary care.

Clinical rheumatology·2017

See all related articles