Biosynthesis of Insoluble Elastin in Hamster Lungs during Elastase-Emphysema

The synthesis of elastin in vivo in normal-mature animals is difficult to demonstrate because of a very slow turnover of this protein. Thus most of the studies of elastin synthesis have been limited to aortic tissue cultures or in in vivo young animals. Our data indicate that the lung, upon elastase-injury, synthesized elastin at demonstratively faster rates than normal. However, the mechanism by which the activation of elastin synthesis occurs in the emphysematous lungs remains for further study.