Umeda, HideyukiAikawa, MasanoriLibby, Peter2017-04-272011Umeda, Hideyuki, Masanori Aikawa, and Peter Libby. 2011. “Liberation of Desmosine and Isodesmosine as Amino Acids from Insoluble Elastin by Elastolytic Proteases.” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 411, no. 2: 281–286.0006-291Xhttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:32605695The development of atherosclerotic lesions and abdominal aortic aneurysms involves degradation and loss of extracellular matrix components, such as collagen and elastin. Releases of the elastin cross-links desmosine (DES) and isodesmosine (IDE) may reflect elastin degradation in cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the production of soluble elastin cross-linking structures by proteinases implicated in arterial diseases. Recombinant MMP-12 and neutrophil elastase liberated DES and IDE as amino acids from insoluble elastin. DES and IDE were also released from insoluble elastin exposed to monocyte/macrophage cell lines or human primary macrophages derived from peripheral blood monocytes. Elastin oxidized by reactive oxygen species (ROS) liberated more unconjugated DES and IDE than did non-oxidized elastin when incubated with MMP-12 or neutrophil elastase. These results support the exploration of free DES and IDE as biomarkers of elastin degradation.en-USAtherosclerosisBiomarkerCross-linkDesmosineElastin degradationIsodesmosineJournal Article2017-04-2710.1016/j.bbrc.2011.06.124