Back to Search Start Over

Immunological studies with human aortic elastin.

Authors :
Barnard K
Partridge SM
Whiting AH
Fantl V
McCullagh KG
Source :
Connective tissue research [Connect Tissue Res] 1982; Vol. 9 (4), pp. 233-40.
Publication Year :
1982

Abstract

Antibodies to human fetal aortic elastin were isolated from sheep immunized with alpha-elastin peptides. In preliminary tests of specificity using passive hemagglutination, partial cross-reactivity was demonstrated with alpha-elastin from other species. However, in a double antibody radio-immunoassay alpha-elastin peptides from other mammalian species failed to compete with 125I-labelled human alpha elastin. These results suggest the existence of at least two different antigenic sites on the elastin molecule. One, a high affinity site, demonstrates species specificity at low antigen/antibody concentrations. The other, a low affinity site, is common to mammalian elastins and is demonstrated at high antibody/antigen concentrations. In the radioimmunoassay the antibodies showed considerably less avidity for adult human alpha-elastin than for the fetal antigen. This implies that the species specific site is age-dependent and probably involves the cross-linking region of the elastin molecule. Using the sheep antiserum immunohistochemical staining of elastic tissue has been developed. This should prove to be a useful technique for studying polymeric elastin in intact tissue by light microscopy and at the ultrastructural level.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0300-8207
Volume :
9
Issue :
4
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Connective tissue research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
6181938
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3109/03008208209160267