Age-dependent changes of K-elastin stimulated effector functions of human phagocytic cells: Relevance for atherogenesis

Effector functions of the elastin receptor on human phagocytic cells from young and older individuals were studied. In cells of young healthy subjects the elastin peptides, the agonists of receptor, stimulated both superoxide anion release from PMNs and phagocytosis of coated human red cells by monocytes. Elastin appeared to inhibit the cholesterol synthesis in monocytes, measured by the incorporation of C-14-acetate. In comparison with phagocytic cells of young (less than or equal to 25 +/- 6 years) subjects, PMNs of elderly donors (greater than or equal to 75 +/- 10 years) bore a similar number of binding sites for soluble elastin peptides, and the affinity of the elastin receptor was unchanged as shown by Scatchard analysis. The phagocytosis of coated human red cells stimulated by elastin peptides was also similar in the two age groups. However, several differences were found between phagocytic cells of young and elderly donors 1) PMNs of elderly released increased amounts of elastase from both resting and elastin peptide stimulated cells, and 2) monocytes of elderly showed a lack of inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by elastin peptides when maintained in cholesterol-free medium. These changes in effector functions of phagocytic cells from elderly donors might contribute to the age-dependent increase of susceptibility to the development of atherosclerotic lesions, (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.