Elastase effect on the extracellular matrix of rat aortic smooth muscle cells in culture

Conference · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6936878

Kispert, J; Mogayzel, Jr, P J; Pratt, C A; Toselli, P; Wolfe, B L; Faris, B; Franzblau, C

The effect of porcine pancreatic elastase on the extracellular matrix (ECM) of neonatal rat aortic smooth muscle cell cultures was monitored both chemically and ultrastructurally. Initially, the elastin appeared as non-coalesced material closely associated with filaments, presumably microfibrils. The insoluble elastin accumulated in the ECM of cells in culture for 6 weeks accounted for 40-45% of the total protein. After exposure to elastase for 30-60 minutes, the elastin content was reduced to 14-20%. The reduction in the total protein content of the cultures after elastase treatment was due primarily to the loss of elastin. Although the amino acid compositions of the elastin isolated from cultures both before and after elastase treatment were similar, there were striking ultrastructural differences in the amorphous elastin. The elastin assumed a mottled appearance after elastase exposure, similar to that seen in in vivo emphysema models. Pulse experiments with /sup 3/H-valine demonstrated an increase in protein synthesis by the cells 20 hours after elastase exposure, suggesting the potential for elastin repair. The use of this culture system will aid in clarifying the role of elastolysis in pulmonary and vascular injuries.

• Research Organization: Boston Univ. School of Medicine, MA
• OSTI ID: 6936878
• Report Number(s): CONF-8606151-
• Journal Information: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Vol. 45:6; Conference: 76. annual meeting of the Federation of American Society for Experimental Biology, Washington, DC, USA, 8 Jun 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
PROTEINS
BIOSYNTHESIS
SERINE PROTEINASES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
AORTA
CELL CULTURES
MUSCLES
NEONATES
RATS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
ANIMALS
ARTERIES
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
ENZYMES
HYDROLASES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques