Properties in elastin of different arteries: cross-links, hydrophobicity and fibronectin in elastin fraction

Abstract

In order to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative changes of elastin in different arteries, biochemical properties were measured; that is, elastin content, isodesmosine (ID) as cross-links content, free thiol content (free SH/total SH), hydrophobic properties and coexisting fibronectin (FN) content in elastin fraction from different arteries, correlation coefficients of these properties and these their effect with aging were also calculated. The results from different arteries in regard to changes in elastin can be summarized as follows: 1. The basilar artery in the quantitative changes of elastin. There was no correlation of these parameters in the basial artery from the other arteries. 2. The content of ID in the coronary artery was lower than that of the other arteries. The level of ID was negatively associated with aging, FN, elastin and free SH. On the other hand, the level of free SH was positively associated with aging, cholesterol and FN. 3. The contents of free SH, hydrohobicity and FN in elastin from the arch to the thoracic artery were lower than that of the other arteries. Hydrohobicity was negatively correlated with ID, and FN was positively correlated with cholesterol. 4. In the abdominal artery, FN content was higher than that of other arteries. There was a correlation between FN and free SH. However, free SH was inversely associated with elastin, ID and hydrohobicity.