Fibulin-4 regulates expression of the tropoelastin gene and consequent elastic-fibre formation by human fibroblasts.

Elastic fibres are essential for normal physiology in numerous tissues, including arteries, lungs and skin. Fibulin-4 is an elastic-fibre-associated glycoprotein that is indispensable for elastic-fibre formation in mice. However, the mechanism by which fibulin-4 executes this function remains to be determined.