The susceptibility of elastin-fatty acid complexes to elastolytic enzymes.

Elastin in vivo is likely to be complexed with amphipathic ligands such as lipids. The susceptibility of stable [3H] elastin-fatty acid complexes to the action of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and to human neutrophil lysates over time was assessed. Elastolysis by PPE of substrates prepared with oleic or linoleic acids was initially higher (for up to 2 hours) than that of uncomplexed elastin.