Expression of MMP-10, MMP-21, MMP-26, and MMP-28 in Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous tumor with poor outcome and increasing incidence. We examined by immunohistochemistry the expression of three novel matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)—MMP-21, MMP-26, and MMP-28—in 44 primary MCC tumors and six lymph node metastases while MMP-10 served as a positive control. Their mRNA expression was also studied in the UISO MCC cell line basally and after various stimulations using quantitative real-time PCR. MMP-28 was observed in tumor cells of 15/44 samples especially in tumors <2 cm in diameter (p = 0.015) while 21/44 specimens showed MMP-28 in the tumor stroma. Expression of MMP-21 was demonstrated in tumor cells of 13/43 samples. MMP-26, instead, was positive in stromal cells (17/44) and its expression associated with tumors ≥2 cm in diameter (p = 0.006). Stromal expression of MMP-10 was the most frequent finding of the studied samples (31/44), but MMP-10 was detected also in tumor cells (17/44). Most of the metastatic lymph nodes expressed MMP-10 and MMP-26. MMP-10, MMP-21, and MMP-28 mRNAs were basally expressed by the UISO cells, and the corresponding proteins were detectable by immunostaining of cultured cells. IFN-α and TNF-α downregulated MMP-21 and MMP-28 expression. Our results suggest that novel MMPs may have a role in MCC pathogenesis: especially that MMP-26 expression in stroma is associated with larger tumors with poor prognosis. Expression of MMP-21 and MMP-28 seems to associate with the tumors of lesser malignant potential. We also confirm the previous finding on the role of MMP-10 in MCC pathogenesis.     

子宫内膜异位症组织中MMP-2和MMP-9基因表达的意义

目的：探讨MMP-2和MMP-9在子宫内膜异位症发生中的作用。方法：采用免疫组织化学SP法研究25例子宫内膜异位症和22例正常子宫内膜组织中MMP-2及MMP-9的蛋白表达情况；采用RT-PCR法研究33例子宫内膜异位症的异位子宫内膜组织和30例正常子宫内膜组织中MMP-2和MMP-9基因的mRNA表达情况。结果：子宫内膜异位症组中的MMP-2和MMP-9的蛋白表达及mRNA表达均明显高于各自的正常子宫内膜对照组（P<0.05）。结论：MMP-2和MMP-9在子宫内膜异位症的发病过程中可能起重要的作用。     

Immunolocalization of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human rheumatoid synovium

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, two important members of the matrix metalloproteinase family, have been shown critical contributions in intra-tumor angiogenesis and invasion of tumor progression, and they might also play important roles in the angiogenesis as well as the pannus formation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, we used the immunohistochemistry, the immunofluorescence staining and the con-focal scanning methods to characterize the immunolocalization of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in RA synovium tissues. Our results showed that both MMP-2 and MMP-9 immunostaining could be found in synoviocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Moreover, our con-focal scanning also showed that MMP-2 could be found in infiltrating CD14⁺ monocytes and CD68⁺ macrophages, and MMP-9 could be found in infiltrating CD68⁺ macrophages in RA synovium tissues, while weak or negative staining of these two MMPs could be found in infiltrating CD20⁺B cells and CD3⁺T cells in RA synovium. Thus, our finding suggests that both MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressed by synoviocytes as well as certain infiltrating immune cells role importantly in the angiogenesis in RA progression.     

MMP-2 activation and stepwise progression of pulmonary adenocarcinoma: analysis of MMP-2 and MMP-9 with gelatin zymography

Small pulmonary adenocarcinomas can be classified on the basis of their histological characteristics and prognosis, and when classified as such, the prognosis of replacing-type adenocarcinoma with active fibroblast proliferation is significantly worse than adenocarcinoma without fibroblast proliferation. In order to clarify the biological mechanisms of the key to the morphological changes associated with active fibroblast proliferation, we examined the activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, which are important enzymes in the stromal invasion by cancers. The active MMP-2 and MMP-9 content of 40 pulmonary adenocarcinomas that were less than 20 mm in diameter was measured by the gelatin zymography method. The quantity of active MMP-2 in the pulmonary adenocarcinomas with active fibroblast proliferation was higher than in the pulmonary adenocarcinomas without proliferation (P < 0.001), but there were no correlations between the histological features and the activation of MMP-9. The presence of active fibroblast proliferation in small pulmonary adenocarcinomas suggests that the cancer cells have acquired the ability to invade through the action of active MMP-2, and this is thought to be one of the reasons for the worse prognosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with active fibroblast proliferation.     

MMP-2、MMP-9及EMMPRIN在子宫内膜异位症中的表达及临床意义

目的研究基质金属蛋白酶2（MMP-2）、基质金属蛋白酶9（MMP-9）、细胞外基质金属蛋白酶诱导因子（EMMPRIN）在子宫内膜异位症（EMs）的表达和意义。方法应用免疫组化二步法检测EMs患者异位内膜42例、在位内膜42例及正常内膜20例中的MMP-2、MMP-9、EMMPRIN的表达情况,并对它们的EMMPRIN、MMP-2、MMP-9蛋白表达水平进行相关性分析。结果 MMP-2、MMP-9、EMMPRIN在异位内膜组中阳性表达率分别为95.24%、92.86%和90.48%,显著高于在位内膜组、正常内膜组（P〈0.05）;而在位内膜组和正常内膜组差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。异位内膜组中,EMMPRIN分别和MMP-2,MMP-9呈正相关性（P〈0.01）。结论 MMP-2、MMP-9、EMMPRIN共同参与了子宫内膜异位症的发生发展;EMMPRIN可能通过促进MMP-2和MMP-9的合成与分泌发挥其作用。     

Activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in sera of breast cancer patients

Gelatinase A (MMP-2) and gelatinase B (MMP-9) are proteolytic enzymes involved in the process of tumor invasion, and they are considered as possible tumor markers in breast cancer patients. In this study, we examined serum activity of proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 in relation to TNM stage, tumor size, lymph node involvement, grade of differentiation of tumors, as well as steroid and Her2/neu receptor status in breast cancer patients. The activity of gelatinase in the sera of 52 patients was analyzed by SDS-PAGE zymography. The activity of proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 significantly increased with each advancing clinical stage of disease (p=0.02–0.0009) and compared to controls (p=0.015 to p<0.01). We found a positive correlation between the activity of proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 and tumor size (p=0.007; p=0.05). Patients with lymph node-positive cancer have higher proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 activity than those with node-negative cancer. ProMMP-2 and proMMP-9 activity is not associated with the expression of Her2/neu receptors, but patients with Her2/neu overexpression (3+) showed increased proMMP-2 activity. Steroid receptor score is not associated with enhanced gelatinase activity. The relationship between the increase in proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 activity in serum and tumor size and lymph node status suggests the usefulness of these enzymes as staging markers of breast cancer patients.     

AcSDKP对大鼠心成纤维细胞MMP-2、MMP-9活性和MMP-1表达的影响

目的探讨N-乙酰基-丝氨酰-天门冬酰-赖氨酰-脯氨酸(AcSDKP)对10%血清和血小板源性生长因子(PDGF)诱导的大鼠心成纤维细胞MMP-2、MMP-9活性和MMP-1表达的调节作用。方法明胶酶谱法检测心成纤维细胞MMP-2、MMP-9的活性。Western blot法检测心成纤维细胞MMP-1的表达。结果10%血清和PDGF使心成纤维细胞MMP-2、MMP-9活性增强,也促进MMP-1的表达;AcSDKP能够进一步增加由10%血清和PDGF诱导的心成纤维细胞MMP-2、MMP-9的活性,并促进MMP-1的表达。结论AcSDKP上调了由PDGF介导的心成纤维细胞MMPs活性或表达,这可能与AcSDKP抗心肌纤维化的作用相关。     

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-11 and MMP-19 is correlated with the WHO-grading of human malignant gliomas

Glioblastomas (GBM) are the most prevalent type of malignant primary brain tumor in adults. They may manifest de novo or develop from low-grade astrocytomas (LGA) or anaplastic astrocytomas. They are characterized by an aggressive local growth pattern and a marked degree of invasiveness, resulting in poor prognosis. Tumor progression is facilitated by an increased activity of proteolytic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Elevated levels of several MMPs were found in glioblastomas compared to LGA and normal brain (NB). However, data for some MMPs, like MMP-1, are controversially discussed and other MMPs like MMP-11 and MMP-19 have as yet not been analysed in detail. We examined the expression of MMP-1, MMP-9, MMP-11 and MMP-19 in NB, LGA and GBM by semiquantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry and found an enhanced expression of these MMPs in GBM compared to LGA or NB in signal strength and in the percentage of tumors displaying MMP expression. The transition from LGA to GBM was characterized by a shift of pro-MMP-11 to expression of the active enzyme. Therefore, MMP-1, MMP-11 and MMP-19 might be of importance for the development of high-grade astrocytic tumors and may be promising targets for therapy.     

MMP-9-siRNA对乳腺癌细胞中MMP-9表达的影响

目的:探讨MMP-9小分子干扰RNA(MMP-9-siRNA)对乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞中MMP-9表达的影响.方法:化学合成针对MMP-9的小分子干扰RNA(MMP-9-siRNA),并将其转染到乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞.本实验分为空白组(不转染任何siRNA)、对照组(转染Control-siRNA 50 nmol/L)和实验组(又分为3个亚组,分别转染10、50、100 nmol/L MMP-9-siRNA)3组.应用RT-PCR法及Western blot法分别在mRNA水平及蛋白水平检测并比较空白组、对照组和实验组中MMP-9表达及其差异.结果:RT-PCR结果显示,对照组MMP-9 mRNA表达率为99.2%±4.9%,与空白组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);实验组10、50、100 nmol/L MMP-9-siRNA 3个亚组MDA-MB-231细胞MMP-9 mRNA表达率分别为80.3%±5.0%、65.2%±4.5%、55.9%±5.1%,与空白组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).Western blot结果显示,对照组蛋白表达率为101.7%±3.1%,与空白组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);实验组 10、50、100 nmol/L MMP-9-siRNA 3个亚组MDA-MB-231细胞MMP-9蛋白质表达率分别为77.6%±3.9%、62.7%±4.1%、55.0%±4.8%,与空白组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:构建的MMP-9-siRNA能够抑制MDA-MB-231细胞中MMP-9的表达,为基因水平治疗乳腺癌提供实验依据.     

Gingival fibroblasts inhibit MMP-1 and MMP-3 activities in an ex-vivo artery model

The main arterial pathologies can be associated with a deregulation of remodeling involving matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), whereas gingival healing is characterized by an absence of fibrosis or irreversible elastin/collagen degradation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of gingival fibroblasts on MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion in an organotypic artery culture. MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretions and activities (dot blots, zymography, ELISA) were evaluated in coculture of rabbit artery in the presence or not of gingival fibroblasts. MMP-1/TIMP-1 and MMP-3/TIMP-1 complexes forms were measured by ELISA. Complementary studies were performed using human aortic smooth muscle cells cocultured with adventitial, dermal, or gingival fibroblasts. Our results indicated that MMP-1 and MMP-3 free-forms activities were significantly reduced in coculture. This inhibition was linked to a significant increase of TIMP-1 leading to formation of TIMP-1/MMPs complexes. Due to the presence of gingival fibroblasts, the decrease in MMP-1 and MMP-3 efficiency thus contributes to diminish the degradation of artery. This cellular therapy strategy could be promising in artery pathologies treatment.     

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 activates MMP-8 but not MMP-13

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a class of zinc-dependent enzymes that degrade extracellular matrix components, particularly collagen. MMPs have been implicated in a diverse list of pathological processes, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Recent efforts to bring MMP inhibitors to clinical trials, however, have proved disappointing. These failures are attributed, in part, to the non-selective nature of current inhibitors. The possibility also exists, however, that inhibition of a particular MMP type will lead to feedback accumulation of parallel MMP members. MMP-7, also known as matrilysin, has a broad list of substrates, including denatured collagen and other MMPs involved in the collagenolytic pathway, namely MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9. Whether the additional collagenases, MMP-8 and MMP-13, are also activated by MMP-7 has not been explored. We show here that recombinant active MMP-7 was able to process MMP-8 to its active form in vitro, but did not activate MMP-13. In the left ventricles of mice lacking the MMP-7 gene, MMP-8 levels increased while MMP-13 levels decreased in vivo. The switch in MMP profile was not accompanied by a change in left ventricular dimensions or wall thickness. Together, these data suggest that MMP-8 is an in vivo substrate of MMP-7, and that the accumulation of pro-MMP-8 in the absence of MMP-7 downregulates pro-MMP-13 levels in order to maintain baseline collagenolytic function. The interplay between MMP-8 and MMP-13 suggest that these MMPs may play reciprocal roles. The design of selective MMP inhibitors, therefore, must take into consideration changes in parallel MMP types as a potential compensatory mechanism.     

Increased MMP-2 activity during intervertebral disc degeneration is correlated to MMP-14 levels

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is associated with the increased expression of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in particular MMP-2. However, little is known about the actual activity of MMP-2 in healthy and degenerated discs, or what mechanisms are involved in its activation. A major activation pathway involves complex formation with MMP-14 and a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2). In a series of 56 human IVDs, obtained at autopsy and graded according to the Thompson score (I-V), we analysed whether MMP-2 activity was increased in different stages of IVD degeneration and to what extent activation was related to the production of MMP-14 and TIMP-2. MMP-2 activation and production were quantified by gelatin zymography. Immunohistochemical staining of MMP-14 and TIMP-2 was quantified with a video overlay-based system. A positive correlation was observed between the amount of active MMP-2 and pro-MMP-2 and degeneration grade (p < 0.001, correlation coefficient (CC) 0.557; and p < 0.001, CC 0.556, respectively). MMP-2 activity correlated positively with MMP-14 and less strongly with TIMP-2 (p = 0.001, CC 0.436; and p = 0.03, CC 0.288, respectively). Moreover, immunopositivity for MMP-14 correlated to degeneration grade (p = 0.002, CC 0.398). IVD degeneration was associated with the activity of MMP-2 and the correlation of its activation with MMP-14 production suggests MMP-14 activates MMP-2 during degeneration. As MMP-14 is capable of activating several other enzymes that are also thought to be involved in IVD degeneration, it may be a key mediator of the degenerative process.     

脊柱浆细胞瘤中MMP-2和MMP-9蛋白的表达及临床意义

目的：探讨脊柱浆细胞瘤中基质金属蛋白酶-2（matrix metallopro teinase-2,MMP-2）和基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）蛋白的表达及其与脊柱浆细胞骨髓瘤生物学行为的关系。方法：应用免疫组织化学SP法检测41例脊柱浆细胞瘤及14例脊柱良性单纯性骨囊肿中MMP-2和MMP-9蛋白的表达。结果：41例脊柱浆细胞瘤中MMP-2和MMP-9蛋白阳性表达率(分别为63.41%和95.12%)明显高于良性骨囊肿（全阴性,P<0.01);MMP-2和MMP-9的过表达与患者生存期、临床分型、免疫球蛋白分型、轻链分型性别及年龄等比较均无统计学差异(P>0.05);但病理形态学分级与预后有相关性,病理分级为III级者平均生存期较 I 级和 II 级者明显降低。结论：病理形态学分级对浆细胞骨髓瘤的预后判断可能具有一定的临床意义;MMP-2和MMP-9在脊柱浆细胞瘤中的高表达也提示二者可作为新的抗转移治疗靶点。     

Gingival Fibroblasts Inhibit MMP-1 and MMP-3 Activities in an Ex-Vivo Artery Model

The main arterial pathologies can be associated with a deregulation of remodeling involving matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), whereas gingival healing is characterized by an absence of fibrosis or irreversible elastin/collagen degradation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of gingival fibroblasts on MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion in an organotypic artery culture. MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretions and activities (dot blots, zymography, ELISA) were evaluated in coculture of rabbit artery in the presence or not of gingival fibroblasts. MMP-1/TIMP-1 and MMP-3/TIMP-1 complexes forms were measured by ELISA. Complementary studies were performed using human aortic smooth muscle cells cocultured with adventitial, dermal, or gingival fibroblasts. Our results indicated that MMP-1 and MMP-3 free-forms activities were significantly reduced in coculture. This inhibition was linked to a significant increase of TIMP-1 leading to formation of TIMP-1/MMPs complexes. Due to the presence of gingival fibroblasts, the decrease in MMP-1 and MMP-3 efficiency thus contributes to diminish the degradation of artery. This cellular therapy strategy could be promising in artery pathologies treatment.     

Expression and Roles of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in Allergic Nasal Mucosa

Purpose

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma share many characteristics, but structural changes are observed far less often in AR. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute a family of Zn-dependent endopeptidases that can decompose the extracellular matrix and basement membrane, and regulate cell infiltration. We analyzed the expression of MMPs and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), in allergic nasal mucosa after nasal allergen challenge (NAC) and determined their relationship to inflammatory cells.

Methods

Nasal mucosa specimens were obtained at surgery performed for hypertrophied turbinates. We performed NAC with house dust mite (HDM) allergen disks and control disks, and took biopsies at 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 12 hours after NAC. Cells expressing MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, as well as eosinophils and mast cells, were analyzed immunohistochemically. The MMPs and TIMPs in allergic nasal mucosa were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results

At 30 minutes post-NAC, HDM-exposed nasal mucosa exhibited significantly more MMP-2+, MMP-9+, MMP-13+, TIMP-1+, and TIMP-2+ cells compared with control mucosa, and the numbers of MMP-9+ and TIMP-1+ cells correlated strongly with the number of mast cells. At 6 hours post-NAC, the numbers of MMP+ and TIMP+ cells did not differ significantly between HDM-exposed mucosa and control mucosa, but the ratios of MMP+ cells to TIMP+ cells were higher in HDM-exposed mucosa. At 12 hours post-NAC, the number of MMP-13+ cells tended to be higher in HDM-exposed mucosa and was strongly correlated with the number of eosinophils. Quantitatively, the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-13 were significantly higher than the MMP-9 level, and the TIMP-2 level was significantly higher than the TIMP-1 level in allergic nasal mucosa.

Conclusions

We demonstrated increased expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-13 in allergic nasal mucosa, high MMPs-to-TIMP-1 ratios, and a strong correlation between MMP-9 and mast cells and between MMP-13 and eosinophils. The imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs may contribute to the migration of inflammatory cells such as eosinophils and mast cells to the nasal mucosa of AR patients, suggesting a possible active role of MMPs in AR.     

MMP—2和MMP—9在人脑原发性胶质瘤侵袭中的作用

目的 探讨基质金属蛋白酶MMP－2和MMP－9在原发性人脑胶质瘤侵袭行为中的作用。方法 用免疫组织化学S－P法检测MMP－2和MMP－9在胶质瘤和脑内转移瘤中的表达情况;同时通过测量CT影像上的瘤周水肿范围,并与免疫组织化学表达结果作对照比较。结果 1.45例人脑胶质瘤档本中,MMP－2和MMP－9的瘤细胞阳性率分别为35.5%、62.2%,两者之间差别显著（P＜0.05）;MMP－2、MMP－9在高度恶性胶质瘤标本中阳性率分别为56.5%、91.3%,两者之间亦存在明显差别（P＜0.01）;2.MMP－2的染色强度与胶质瘤侵袭指标－－CT瘤周水肿范围无关（P＞0.05）,而MMP－9的染色强度则与其有关（P＜0.05）;也与高度恶性胶质瘤中的表达率无统计学差别（P＞0.05）。结论 MMP－2、MMP－9在人脑胶质瘤中可以作为恶性表型及侵袭指标之一,亦可体现胶质瘤基质降解表型,但不能作为转移表型。其中,MMP－9在人脑胶质瘤侵袭中可能发挥着更重要的作用。     

MMP-2 but not MMP-9 associated with COX-2 and survival in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-2 and MMP-9 can degrade type IV collagen of extracellular matrix and basal membranes. As cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been shown to activate MMPs, creating one of the COX-2-promoted pathways of tumour growth and metastasis, the prognostic role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in gastric cancer was assessed and their association with COX-2 expression was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples were collected from 342 consecutive patients operated on for gastric cancer, of which 315 were acceptable for MMP-2, MMP-9 and COX-2 immunohistochemistry. Specimens were stained with specific antibodies, evaluated and categorised by two interpreters, and then correlated with clinical data and survival. RESULTS: Epithelial MMP-2 immunoreactivity was associated with male sex, high stage, advanced penetration depth, non-curative surgery, high COX-2 expression and poor survival. Stromal MMP-2 expression correlated with high stage, intestinal type and non-curative surgery whereas MMP-9 correlated only with intestinal type. Stage, intent of surgery and COX-2 were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial MMP-2 expression in gastric cancer is associated with aggressive forms, COX-2 and poor survival, although MMP-2 was not an independent prognostic factor. In gastric cancer tumour growth is apparently induced by COX-2, and invasion is mediated by MMP-2.