MAB3307 Sigma-AldrichAnti-MMP-1 Antibody, a.a. 332-350 hMMP1, clone 41-1E5

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic and progressive disease characterized by pulmonary vasculopathy with elevation of pulmonary artery pressure, often culminating in right ventricular failure. GATA-6, a member of the GATA family of zinc-finger transcription factors, is highly expressed in quiescent vasculature and is frequently lost during vascular injury. We hypothesized that endothelial GATA-6 may play a critical role in the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction in PAH. Here we report that GATA-6 is markedly reduced in pulmonary ECs lining both occluded and nonoccluded vessels in patients with idiopathic and systemic sclerosis-associated PAH. GATA-6 transcripts are also rapidly decreased in rodent PAH models. Endothelial GATA-6 is a direct transcriptional regulator of genes controlling vascular tone [endothelin-1, endothelin-1 receptor type A, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)], pro-inflammatory genes, CX3CL1 (fractalkine), 5-lipoxygenease-activating protein, and markers of vascular remodeling, including PAI-1 and RhoB. Mice with the genetic deletion of GATA-6 in ECs (Gata6-KO) spontaneously develop elevated pulmonary artery pressure and increased vessel muscularization, and these features are further exacerbated in response to hypoxia. Furthermore, innate immune cells including macrophages (CD11b(+)/F4/80(+)), granulocytes (Ly6G(+)/CD45(+)), and dendritic cells (CD11b(+)/CD11c(+)) are significantly increased in normoxic Gata6-KO mice. Together, our findings suggest a critical role of endothelial GATA-6 deficiency in development and disease progression in PAH.

The discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) are receptor tyrosine kinases that upon binding to collagens undergo receptor phosphorylation, which in turn activates signal transduction pathways that regulate cell-collagen interactions. We report here that collagen-dependent DDR1 activation is partly regulated by the proteolytic activity of the membrane-anchored collagenases, MT1-, MT2-, and MT3-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). These collagenases cleave DDR1 and attenuate collagen I- and IV-induced receptor phosphorylation. This effect is not due to ligand degradation, as it proceeds even when the receptor is stimulated with collagenase-resistant collagen I (r/r) or with a triple-helical peptide harboring the DDR recognition motif in collagens. Moreover, the secreted collagenases MMP-1 and MMP-13 and the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane-type MMPs (MT4- and MT6-MMP) have no effect on DDR1 cleavage or activation. N-terminal sequencing of the MT1-MMP-mediated cleaved products and mutational analyses show that cleavage of DDR1 takes place within the extracellular juxtamembrane region, generating a membrane-anchored C-terminal fragment. Metalloproteinase inhibitor studies show that constitutive shedding of endogenous DDR1 in breast cancer HCC1806 cells is partly mediated by MT1-MMP, which also regulates collagen-induced receptor activation. Taken together, these data suggest a role for the collagenase of membrane-type MMPs in regulation of DDR1 cleavage and activation at the cell-matrix interface.

Remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surface by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is an important function of monocytes and macrophages. Recent work has emphasised the diverse roles of classically and alternatively activated macrophages but the consequent regulation of MMPs and their inhibitors has not been studied comprehensively. Classical activation of macrophages derived in vitro from un-fractionated CD16(+/-) or negatively-selected CD16(-) macrophages up-regulated MMP-1, -3, -7, -10, -12, -14 and -25 and decreased TIMP-3 steady-state mRNA levels. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide, IL-1 and TNFα were more effective than interferonγ except for the effects on MMP-25, and TIMP-3. By contrast, alternative activation decreased MMP-2, -8 and -19 but increased MMP -11, -12, -25 and TIMP-3 steady-state mRNA levels. Up-regulation of MMPs during classical activation depended on mitogen activated protein kinases, phosphoinositide-3-kinase and inhibitor of κB kinase-2. Effects of interferonγ depended on janus kinase-2. Where investigated, similar effects were seen on protein concentrations and collagenase activity. Moreover, activity of MMP-1 and -10 co-localised with markers of classical activation in human atherosclerotic plaques in vivo. In conclusion, classical macrophage activation selectively up-regulates several MMPs in vitro and in vivo and down-regulates TIMP-3, whereas alternative activation up-regulates a distinct group of MMPs and TIMP-3. The signalling pathways defined here suggest targets for selective modulation of MMP activity.

Akt is a key signalling molecule that was found to be down-regulated in chronic wounds. Akt blockade has dual antifibrotic effects in human dermal fibroblasts, by up-regulating matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) and down-regulating collagen gene expression (J Invest Dermatol 2008: 128: 1906). The aim of this study was to gain additional insights into the mechanism of MMP1 up-regulation following Akt blockade. As previous studies showed that CCN2 can be a positive regulator of MMP1, we examined the effects of Akt inhibition on CCN2 expression. Akt blockade using a specific pharmacological inhibitor and Akt siRNA resulted in a significant up-regulation of CCN2, which correlated with the increase in MMP1. The MMP1 up-regulation following Akt blockade was partially suppressed by CCN2 siRNA, suggesting that CCN2 is contributing to this effect. Additional experiments showed that CCN2 induces phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Ets1 and c-Jun. Consistent with the stimulatory role of ERK1/2/Ets1 in the expression of MMP1, the ERK1/2 inhibitor UO126 prevented the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Ets1 and completely abrogated the induction of MMP1 after CCN2 overexpression, while having no effect on c-Jun activation. Taken together these results establish CCN2 as a key regulator of MMP1 induction via activation of the ERK1/2/Ets1 pathway. Down-regulation of Akt signalling leads to inappropriate activation of the CCN2/MMP1 pathway that may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic wounds. Coordinate expression of CCN2, Akt and MMP1 could be important for normal wound healing to occur. Thus, targeting these specific proteins may represent a promising approach to the therapy of dysregulated wound healing.

The deep penetrating nevus is a rare variant of benign melanocytic nevus with histologic features mimicking vertical growth phase, nodular malignant melanoma. In this study, we expand on the search for new complementary discriminating markers by analyzing a selection of both cell cycle-related factors, such as retinoblastoma protein and phospho-retinoblastoma protein Ser795 as indicators for retinoblastoma protein activation/inactivation status, and invasion-related factors, such as matrix metalloproteinase-1, matrix metalloproteinase-2, membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 and integrin beta3. MIB-1/Ki-67 was analyzed as an example for a common proliferation marker. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26 was analyzed as a marker affecting both proliferation and invasion of malignant melanocytic tumors. Semiquantitative assessment of both immunolocalization and immunoreactivity of retinoblastoma protein and phospho-retinoblastoma protein Ser795, MIB-1/Ki-67, matrix metalloproteinase-1, matrix metalloproteinase-2, membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 and integrin beta3 revealed no consistent differences between deep penetrating nevi (n=14) and matched cases of nodular malignant melanomas (n=10). Matrix metalloproteinase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 immunostaining of some deep penetrating nevi even exceeded that of nodular malignant melanomas. Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression scores of nodular malignant melanomas were higher than those of deep penetrating nevi, which was, however, not significantly discriminative. In contrast, immunostaining of dipeptidyl peptidase IV was significantly discriminative due to a consistent lack of dipeptidyl peptidase IV-expression in nodular malignant melanomas. These results add evidence that among the selected markers supposed to be relevant for melanoma progression the presence of dipeptidyl peptidase IV can be used to support diagnosis of deep penetrating nevi in doubtful cases. As loss of dipeptidyl peptidase IV may also be causally linked to the transition of invasive to metastatic phenotypes, the molecular mechanisms downstream of dipeptidyl peptidase IV deserve to be studied in more detail in future investigations.

The small GTPases of the Rho family are key intermediates in cellular signalling triggered by activated cell-adhesion receptors. In this study, we took advantage of RNA interference (RNAi) using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to define the roles of the best-characterized members of the RhoGTPase family, RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42, in the control of MMP-1, MMP-2 and type-I-collagen expression in normal human skin fibroblasts (HSFs). A specific and long-lasting repression, up to 7 days after transfection, of the three GTPases was achieved by transient transfection of specific siRNA. The silencing of Cdc42, but not that of RhoA or Rac1, induced a 15-fold increase in MMP-1 secretion. This upregulation was confirmed at the mRNA level and observed with two different siRNAs targeting Cdc42. Such a regulation was also observed in various human cell lines and was rescued by re-expressing wild-type Cdc42 encoded by a construct bearing silent mutations impeding its recognition by the siRNA. By contrast, MMP-2 and type-I-collagen expression was not affected by the individual silencing of each Rho GTPase. Cytokine protein array, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and reverse-transcription PCR measurements revealed that ablation of Cdc42 induced an overexpression of interleukin 8 and MCP-1. Although these cytokines are known to induce the expression of MMP-1, we showed that they were not involved in the Cdc42-mediated upregulation of MMP-1. Silencing of Cdc42 also induced an increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase. The use of chemical inhibitors on Cdc42-ablated cells revealed that the upregulation of MMP-1 is dependent on the ERK1/2 pathways, whereas the p38 MAP kinase pathway displayed an inhibitory role. Simultaneous knock-down of two or three Rho GTPases allowed us to demonstrate that the RhoA-ROCK pathway was not involved in this regulation but that the silencing of Rac1 reduced the effect of Cdc42 suppression. These data suggest that, in vivo, when cell/extracellular-matrix interactions via integrins induce cytoskeleton organization, MMP-1 expression is maintained at a low level by Cdc42 via a repression of the Rac1 and ERK1/2 pathways. Therefore, Cdc42 contributes to ECM homeostasis and connective tissue integrity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix and are implicated in numerous pathological conditions including atherosclerosis, inflammation, and tumor growth and metastasis. In the brain, the endothelial cell wall, strengthened by tight junctions, defines the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The extracellular matrix molecules constitute the basement membrane underlying the vasculature and play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the BBB. After focal stroke, there is a breakdown of the BBB with an associated increase in vascular permeability, inflammatory cell influx, and neuronal cell death. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of MMP expression after stroke. METHODS: Focal stroke was produced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the rat, and MMP protein expression was measured by Western blot and zymogram analysis over a time course ranging from 6 hours to 30 days (n=32). Immunohistochemistry at 1 and 5 days (n=8 and 6, respectively) was also utilized to characterize the expression of several MMPs and related proteins after stroke, including their cellular source. To test the hypothesis that early increased MMP-9 expression is involved in ischemic brain injury, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody directed against MMP-9 was administered intravenously (n=7 per group) 1 hour before MCAO, and infarct size was measured 24 hours later. RESULTS: MMP expression increased progressively over time after stroke. After 12 hours, significant (P<0.05) MMP-9 activity was observed that reached maximum levels by 24 hours (P<0.001), then persisted for 5 days at this level and returned to basal (zero) levels by 15 days. On the basis of morphological criteria, MMP-9 appeared to stain with endothelial cells and neutrophils identified both within and at the periphery of the infarct within 24 hours of focal ischemia. After 5 days, MMP-9 appeared to stain with macrophages present within the infarcted brain. MMP-2 activity was significantly (P<0.001) increased by 24 hours and was maximum after 5 days following MCAO. MMP-2 appeared to stain with macrophages present within the infarcted region. Unlike MMP-9 and MMP-2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 was identified at comparable levels in both control and ischemic tissue after MCAO. MMP-1 and MMP-3 could not be detected in the brain after focal stroke. When an MMP-9-neutralizing monoclonal antibody was administered systemically, animals exhibited significantly reduced infarct size (ie, a 30% reduction compared with non-immune antibody controls; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that early increased MMP-9 expression in endothelial cells and infiltrating neutrophils is a significant response to cerebral focal ischemia and that selective inhibition of MMP-9 activity can significantly reduce brain injury after stroke.