[Elastolysis, aging and atherogenesis].

In order to explore the potential role and importance of elastin fiber degradation in atherogenesis we determined in more than 1,400 individuals (males and females between 59 and 71 years of age), [the EVA epidemiological study] serum parameters related to elastin fiber degradation: serum elastase activity, circulating elastin peptides and serum elastase inhibitor titers. Significant correlations were found these between parameters and several other serum constituents considered as risk-factors of atherogenesis--essentially serum lipid-parameters and glycemia as well as several other biological factors. These correlations confirm the validity of the underlying hypothesis concerning the interest of the clinical determinations of these elastin-related parameters and the potential role of the permanent activation of the endothelial elastin-receptor in atherogenesis.