Elastolytic enzymes in the vessel wall

Abstract

If the enzymes of the elastase complex intervene in the aging processes of elastic tissue and initially control the deposition of atherosclerotic lesions in blood vessels, it must be assumed that these enzymes which are produced in the pancreas pass into the vascular tissues via the circulation. Hence experiments were conducted to determine whether or not they could be isolated from aortic tissue. Their presence was already demonstrated in blood. Small but consistently present amounts of the proteolytic elastase component (elastopro-teinase), of the mucolytic component (elastomucase), and of the elastoproteinase inhibitor could be isolated from calf and cow aorta powder. The presence of the third enzyme of the elastase complex (the lipolytic enzyme elastolipoproteinase) could not be definitely proved. The observation that the fraction which showed elastolytic activity, at the same time also inhibited the activity of highly purified pancreatic elastoproteinase could not be explained.