Subject(s)
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology , Extracellular Matrix/physiology , Fibronectins/physiology , Neoplasm Metastasis/pathology , Neoplasms/pathology , Receptors, Fibronectin/physiology , Cell Adhesion/physiology , Cell Differentiation/physiology , Extracellular Matrix/ultrastructure , Humans , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Neoplasm Metastasis/physiopathology , Neoplasm Metastasis/ultrastructure , Neoplasms/etiology , Neoplasms/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Elastin-derived peptides, kappa-elastin, prepared by chemical degradation of insoluble elastin from bovine ligamentum nuchae, were shown to increase the elastase-like activity in the culture medium and cell fractions in fibroblasts. Preincubation of cells with nifedipine (calcium channel blocker) and trifluoperazine (calmodulin antagonist) induced a decrease in the activities of the enzyme under study. These data suggest the possibility of pharmacological modulation of the biological effects induced by elastin-derived peptides.
Subject(s)
Elastin/pharmacology , Liver/enzymology , Pancreatic Elastase/metabolism , Peptide Fragments/pharmacology , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Elastin/isolation & purification , Fibroblasts/enzymology , Kinetics , Mice , Microsomes, Liver/enzymology , Nifedipine/pharmacology , Peptide Fragments/isolation & purification , Trifluoperazine/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Immunological and microbial factors may lead to the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Cross immune reactions between aortic kappa-2-elastin and antisera against some antigens of Gram-negative bacteria--Salmonella and Escherichia coli--were studied using the dot-immunobinding assay. Positive results were obtained with antisera against Salmonella AO, BO, CO, EO, HM and Escherichia coli OK(A). Among immunological mechanisms leading to atherosclerosis cross immunoreactivity of aortic antigens with antimicrobial antibodies should be taken into consideration.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Cross Reactions/immunology , Elastin/immunology , Escherichia coli/immunology , Salmonella/immunology , Animals , Aorta/metabolism , Arteriosclerosis/etiology , Humans , Immunoblotting , Rabbits , SwineABSTRACT
Anti-elastin antibodies which seem to play an important role in atherogenesis were studied in serum of rabbits fed with a cholesterol-rich diet using the dot-immunobinding assay. These antibodies appeared only in rabbits of the experimental group after the sixth week of the experiment and a progressive rise in their titer was observed. The concentration of total serum cholesterol and the elastase-like activity in aorta which were determined additionally showed a statistically significant increase of both analyzed parameters in animals from the experimental group when compared to the controls. Anti-elastin antibodies seem to reflect an increased elastin turnover during the induction of experimental atherosclerosis.
Subject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/immunology , Autoantibodies/blood , Diet, Atherogenic , Elastin/immunology , Animals , Aorta/enzymology , Cholesterol/blood , Immunoblotting , Male , Pancreatic Elastase/blood , RabbitsABSTRACT
Experimental immunization of rabbits with soluble porcine elastin was performed. An increase in histamine level in blood of immunized animals was observed.
