Age-related changes in anti-elastin antibodies in serum from normal and atherosclerotic subjects.

A modified version of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), utilising human insoluble aortic elastin, was used for determination of anti-elastin antibodies in serum from normal and atherosclerotic subjects. The age-related changes in their level among healthy persons were investigated. Anti-elastin antibodies were found in all the tested human sera, showing the highest level at the age of 18-20 and the lowest at the age over 60 and especially among atherosclerotic patients. The possible role of the immune system in the turnover of elastin is discussed.