[Strategies on repairing elastic fibers in aorta].
OBJECTIVE
To review the strategies on repairing elastic fibers in aorta.


METHODS
Literature concerning elastic fiber as well as its repairment was consulted and summarized from three aspects: enhancement of the expressions of its components, improvement of the condition of its assembly, and reduction of the destructive effects.


RESULTS
Elastin is concerned as the main protein to be enhanced with three different methods including gene transfection, stimulation with ectogenesis factors, and induction of phenotype transition of smooth muscle cell. Fibulin and lysyl oxidases show the ability to improve the assembly of the elastic fiber, while the related mechanisms are not clear. Matrix metalloproteinases are regarded as the main destructive factors, and researches focus on reducing their expression as well as their destructive effects.


CONCLUSIONS
To assure a high-quality repair of elastic fibers in aorta, their components should be sufficiently expressed and effectively assemblyed, and the destructive effects caused by dangerous factors should also be reduced.
Department of Vascular Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, PR China.
Ren
R
Wei
Jiang
J
Xiong
Wei
W
Guo
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004549:Elastin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014162:Transfection
D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D004549:Elastin; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases