Immunological and histological study of guinea-pigs injected with insoluble human elastin.

Guinea-pigs injected with insoluble human elastin in Freund's complete adjuvant developed delayed hypersensitivity to elastin as measured by skin testing. Circulating antibodies to both insoluble and soluble elastins were also found as well as an increase in lymphocyte stimulation by elastin. However, no histologically defined abnormalities were evident in the arterial vessels selected after 5 months.