Synthesis of crosslinked elastin by an endothelial cell culture

Synthesis of crosslinked elastin by a major lung cell has not previously been reported. Elastin production by an established clone of rat lung endothelial cells was detected by two separate, highly sensitive methods. The first procedure involved isolation and identification of the labelled, elastin-specific crosslinking amino acids desmosine and isodesmosine by thin layer electrophoresis and radioautography. The second procedure involved detection of elastin by immunofluorescence, using anti-rat lung elastin peptide serum.