title: Biochemical investigation of possible lesions in human aorta that predispose to dissecting aneurysms: pyridinoline crosslinks.
abstract: Pyridinoline, a collagen specific covalent crosslink, was quantified in acid hydrolysates of human aorta using a non-equilibrium inhibition ELISA. The study was based on specimens from seven cases of aortic dissection and from seven control subjects whose death was unrelated to thoracic aortic dissection. There were no significant differences in the amounts or concentrations of pyridinoline in aortas with dissecting aneurysms compared with normal tissue, thus excluding the possibility of a causative relation between the degree of pyridinoline crosslinking of collagen molecules and dissection of the thoracic aorta. In all cases, however, the number of pyridinoline crosslinks per molecule of collagen in the ascending aorta and arch approached the theoretical maximum for lysyl derivatives and was as high as that present in cartilage. Thus in this region of the vessel pyridinoline represents the major stabilising crosslink of collagen. In contrast, the number of pyridinoline crosslinks per collagen molecule decreased maximally by a factor of 10 between the arch and the proximal regions of the descending thoracic aorta. This suggests a possible correlation between the rigidity of collagen fibres and the forces exerted on the aortic wall during diastole and systole.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001011:Aorta / Q000032:analysis*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000032:analysis; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; C015484:pyridinoline; D006909:Hydroxyproline