ELASTIN IN THE ARTERIES - ROLE IN PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY

Elastin is the structural protein, the main component of elastic fibers. It is a protein with an exceptionally long half-life. Due to its elastic properties, determined by the presence of demosine and isodesmosine, after being stretched tissue returns to its original state, which allows to maintain the proper biomechanical properties of arteries. This protein has numerous other functions, ie. adjustment of adhesion, migration, proliferation, and cytoskeleton organization of smooth muscle cells, which build a central layer of blood vessels. Elastin is involved in various anti-atherogenic mechanisms, among others reduction of proinflammatory action of leukocytes, inhibiting migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells. However, it also plays a role in the pathological changes in blood vessels, for example is involved in calcification of arteries and is subject to glycation, both processes significantly stiffen the tissue. In atherosclerotic plaques, where is high activity of matrix metalloproteinases and other elastolytic enzymes, increased degradation of the protein occurs. At the same time there may occur also elastin expression, remains a question whether the protein produced in the adult organism can be submitted in complicated process of fibrils forming that they are functional. In addition, aging and hypertension influence the structure and quantity of elastin which has consequences in stiffness of the tissue and impaired functioning of the arteries, which can lead to failure of the circulatory system. A variety of strategies have been developed to influence the rate of expression, modification, and degradation of this protein, and diagnostic value of the anti-elastin antibody and peptides derived from elastin degradation have been estimated in cardiovascular diseases.