title: Analysis of the molecular mobility of collagen and elastin in safe, atheromatous and aneurysmal aortas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we propose to use a thermal technique, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to follow the evolution of elastin and collagen in safe and pathological cardiovascular tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first part of this study deals with the analysis of the elastin network and associated proteins during ageing (from children to old persons) in aortic walls. The second part is devoted to the characterization of the collagenic phase in aneurysms. In both cases, physical data are correlated with biochemical analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For old persons aortas with atheromatous stades, elastin and associated proteins are found to interpenetrate to form a homogenous phase. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are characterized by structural alterations of the aortic wall resulting from the degradation of elastic fibers and an increase of collagen/elastin ratio. Notable modifications are evidenced between collagen from control tissue and collagen from AAA, particularly concerning the thermal denaturation. Biochemical and thermal results are compatible with the increase of new collagen deposition and/or impairment of the collagen phase stability in the extracellular matrix of AAAs.
authors.affiliation: Physique des polymères, BAT 3R1B2, institut Carnot, CIRIMAT UMR 5085, université Paul-Sabatier, 118, route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse cedex 9, France. vsamou@cict.fr
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Samouillan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dandurand
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacabanne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gargiulo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Degani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gandaglia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004549:Elastin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D021381:Protein Transport; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin