Degradation of
elastin, the main amorphous component of elastic fibers, by elastases belonging to the
serine, metallo, or
cysteine families leads to the generation of
elastin fragments, designated as elastokines in keeping with their
cytokine-like properties. Generation of elastokines from one of the longest lived
protein in human might represent a strong tissue repair signal. Indeed, they (1) exhibit potent chemotactic activity for leukocytes, (2) stimulate fibroblast and smooth muscle cell proliferation, and (3) display proangiogenic activity as potent as
VEGF. However, continuous exposure of cells to these matrikines, through increased
elastase(s) expression with age, can contribute to the formation of a chronic inflammatory state, that is, inflamm-aging. Importantly, binding of elastokines to
S-Gal, their cognate receptor, proved to stimulate
matrix metalloproteinase expression in normal and
cancer cells. Besides, these
elastin fragments can polarize lymphocytes toward a Th-1 response or induce an osteogenic response in smooth muscle cells, and arterial wall calcification. In this chapter, emphasis will be made on the contribution of elastokines on the genesis of age-related arterial wall diseases, particularly
abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). An elastokine theory of AAAs progression will be proposed. Age is one main risk factor of
cancer incidence and development. The myriad of
biological effects exerted by elastokines on stromal and inflammatory cells led us to hypothesize that they might be main actors in elaborating a favorable cancerization field in
melanoma; for instance these
peptides could catalyze the vertical growth phase transition in
melanoma through increased expression of
gelatinase A and
membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase.