Measurement of elastin, collagen, and total protein levels in tissues.

Elastin and collagen levels in tissues are frequently difficult to measure because of each protein's limited solubility. This chapter provides detailed methodology for the determination of elastin, collagen, and total protein levels in a single tissue sample. All three assays start with an acid hydrolysate of the tissue, which breaks the tissue-associated proteins down to their component amino acids.

Inhibition of MAPK-Erk pathway in vivo attenuates aortic valve disease processes in Emilin1-deficient mouse model.

Aortic valve disease (AVD) is a common condition with a progressive natural history, and presently, there are no pharmacologic treatment strategies. Elastic fiber fragmentation (EFF) is a hallmark of AVD, and increasing evidence implicates developmental elastic fiber assembly defects. Emilin1 is a glycoprotein necessary for elastic fiber assembly that is present in both developing and mature human and mouse aortic valves.

Magnetically-responsive, multifunctional drug delivery nanoparticles for elastic matrix regenerative repair.

Unlabelled: Arresting or regressing growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), localized expansions of the abdominal aorta are contingent on inhibiting chronically overexpressed matrix metalloproteases (MMPs)-2 and -9 that disrupt elastic matrix within the aortic wall, concurrent with providing a stimulus to augmenting inherently poor auto-regeneration of these matrix structures. In a recent study we demonstrated that localized, controlled and sustained delivery of doxycycline (DOX; a tetracycline-based antibiotic) from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs), enhances elastic matrix deposition and MMP-inhibition at a fraction of the therapeutically effective oral dose. The surface functionalization of these NPs with cationic amphiphiles, which enhances their arterial uptake, was also shown to have pro-matrix regenerative and anti-MMP effects independent of the DOX.

Phenotype-based selection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived smooth muscle cells for elastic matrix regenerative repair in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Chronic proteolytic disruption of elastic fibres within the abdominal aortic wall results in wall vessel expansion to form rupture-prone abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Arresting AAA growth is not possible as adult vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) poorly auto-regenerate and repair elastic fibres. Thus, there is a need to identify alternate cell sources capable of robust elastic matrix assembly to overcome elastolysis in the AAA wall.

Fibulin-4 E57K Knock-in Mice Recapitulate Cutaneous, Vascular and Skeletal Defects of Recessive Cutis Laxa 1B with both Elastic Fiber and Collagen Fibril Abnormalities.

Fibulin-4 is an extracellular matrix protein essential for elastic fiber formation. Frameshift and missense mutations in the fibulin-4 gene (EFEMP2/FBLN4) cause autosomal recessive cutis laxa (ARCL) 1B, characterized by loose skin, aortic aneurysm, arterial tortuosity, lung emphysema, and skeletal abnormalities. Homozygous missense mutations in FBLN4 are a prevalent cause of ARCL 1B.

Pro-elastogenic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived smooth muscle cells on cultured aneurysmal smooth muscle cells.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) involve slow proteolysis and loss of structural matrix components (collagen and elastin), which lead to wall thinning, weakening and ultimate rupture. At this time, no established non-surgical therapy is available to slow or arrest AAA growth. Inhibiting matrix metalloproteases (MMPs; e.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 is required for epithelial recovery, but not for pulmonary fibrosis, in response to bleomycin.

The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis involves lung epithelial injury and aberrant proliferation of fibroblasts, and results in progressive pulmonary scarring and declining lung function. In vitro, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 promotes myofibroblast differentiation and proliferation in cooperation with the profibrotic growth factor, transforming growth factor-β1, but the in vivo requirement for FGF2 in the development of pulmonary fibrosis is not known. The bleomycin model of lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis was applied to Fgf2 knockout (Fgf2(-/-)) and littermate control mice.

A fiber-based constitutive model predicts changes in amount and organization of matrix proteins with development and disease in the mouse aorta.

Decreased elastin in mice (Eln+/-) yields a functioning vascular system with elevated blood pressure and increased arterial stiffness that is morphologically distinct from wild-type mice (WT). Yet, function is retained enough that there is no appreciable effect on life span and some mechanical properties are maintained constant. It is not understood how the mouse modifies the normal developmental process to produce a functioning vascular system despite a deficiency in elastin.