title: The function of elastic fibers in the arteries: beyond elasticity.
abstract: The main components of elastic fibers, elastin and fibrillin-containing microfibrils play a structural and mechanical role in the arteries and their essential function is to provide elasticity and resilience to the tissues. However, through control of the quiescent contractile phenotype of arterial smooth muscle cells, elastin also acts as an autocrine factor and, via the binding of 'latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-β binding protein (LTBP) - latency-associated peptide (LAP) - TGF-β' complexes, fibrillins regulate the activation and availability of TGF-βs. These recent discoveries are detailed in this review.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1148, université Paris 7, hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 46, rue Henri-Huchard, 75877 Paris cedex 18, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lannoy
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1148, université Paris 7, hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 46, rue Henri-Huchard, 75877 Paris cedex 18, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slove
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1148, université Paris 7, hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 46, rue Henri-Huchard, 75877 Paris cedex 18, France. Electronic address: marie-paule.jacob-lenet@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: M-P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004548:Elasticity; D004549:Elastin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000071837:Fibrillins; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020894:Microfibrils / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000071837:Fibrillins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004549:Elastin
keywords: Aorte; Arteries; Artères; Elastic fibers; Elastin; Fibres élastiques; Fibrillin; Fibrilline; Microfibrilles; Microfibrils; TGF-β; TGF-β, Aorta; Élastine