elastin and Takayasu-Arteritis

Studies of autoimmune diseases have not yet elucidated why certain organs or vessels become the objects of injury while others are spared. This paper explores the hypothesis that important differences exist in regions of the aorta; these regional variations determine vulnerability to such diseases as atherosclerosis, aortitis, giant-cell arteritis, and Takayasu's disease. The reader is invited to reassess two issues: (1) whether the aorta is indeed a single homogeneous structure; and (2) whether the initial stage of aortitis (and indeed other diseases considered "autoimmune") may primarily be the result of acquired alterations of substrate that influence unique immune profiles, but that by themselves may not be pathogenic. Disease susceptibility and patterns are influenced by many factors that are either inborn or acquired. Examples include genetic background, gender, ethnicity, aging, prior and concomitant illnesses, habits, diet, and exposure to toxins and other environmental hazards. Studies of vascular diseases must assess how such variables affect regional anatomic differences in endothelial cells, subendothelial matrix, and vascular smooth muscle, as well as the response of each to a variety of stimuli.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Aortitis; Atherosclerosis; Collagen; Disease Models, Animal; Elastin; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Immune System; Takayasu Arteritis; Vasculitis

A search for antibodies reactive against a total human aorta extract and its main protein components such as elastin, fibronectin and collagen was attempted by electroimmunetransference and ELISA. Thirty five sera from clinically and angiographically proven diagnosis of Takayasu Arteritis patients were compared with 32 sera from people without abnormalities. Non specific binding was found on electroimmune transference and no difference was shown in optical density readings in ELISA, therefore, we did not demonstrate the presence of antiaorta specific antibodies in this vasculitic condition. Our findings are in agreement with several authors, the contribution of humoral immunity to pathogenesis of Takayasu Arteritis has not been proved yet.

Topics: Adult; Aorta, Thoracic; Autoantibodies; Blotting, Western; Collagen; Elastin; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Fibronectins; Humans; Takayasu Arteritis

Topics: Arteritis; Cell Migration Inhibition; Collagen Diseases; Elastin; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Leukocytes; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Scleroderma, Systemic; Takayasu Arteritis; Vascular Diseases