Age-associated proinflammatory elastic fiber remodeling in large arteries

•Elastic laminae are the main components of the extracellular matrix of large arteries.•Elastic lamina remodeling is an intricate process of synthesis and degradation of the core tropoelastin protein accompanied by the assembly and disassembly with accessory proteins.•Age related morphological, structural, and functional proinflammatory remodeling within the elastic laminae has a profound effect upon the integrity, elasticity, calcification, amyloidosis, and stiffness of the large arterial wall.•Age-associated increase in arterial elastic fiber remodeling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of large arterial diseases. Elastic fibers are the main components of the extracellular matrix of the large arterial wall. Elastic fiber remodeling is an intricate process of synthesis and degradation of the core elastin protein and microfibrils accompanied by the assembly and disassembly of accessory proteins. Age-related morphological, structural, and functional proinflammatory remodeling within the elastic fiber has a profound effect upon the integrity, elasticity, calcification, amyloidosis, and stiffness of the large arterial wall. An age-associated increase in arterial stiffness is a major risk factor for the pathogenesis of diseases of the large arteries such as hypertensive and atherosclerotic vasculopathy. This mini review is an update on the key molecular, cellular, functional, and structural mechanisms of elastic fiber proinflammatory remodeling in large arteries with aging. Targeting structural and functional integrity of the elastic fiber may be an effective approach to impede proinflammatory arterial remodeling with advancing age.