Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Promoter Research Articles

Suppression of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced tumor cell invasion by apigenin via the inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression

Apigenin has special interest for the development of chemopreventive agents against cancer because it is a widely distributed plant flavonoid that has antitumor properties. In this study, we investigated the apigenin effects on the protease-mediated invasiveness in human metastatic cancer cell lines Caski, SK-Hep1, and MDA-231. We found that apigenin markedly inhibits the phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced increase in MMP-9 expression and activity in several cancer cell lines. These effects of apigenin are dose-dependent and correlate with the suppression of MMP-9 mRNA expression levels. PMA caused about a 5-fold induction in MMP-9 promoter activity, which was also suppressed by apigenin treatment in Caski cells. We found that apigenin could inhibit PMA-induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), which was involved in the down-regulation of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) at mRNA levels. Furthermore, the treatment of inhibitors specific for p38 MAPK (SB203580) to Caski cells caused the reduction of MMP-9 expression. Restoration of p38 expression partly increased PMA-induced MMP-9 secretion blocked by apigenin treatment in Caski cells. These results showed apigenin might inhibit the invasion and migration abilities of Caski cells by reducing the MMP-9 expression through suppressing the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. These findings indicate that apigenin might be a useful strategy for controlling metastasis and the invasiveness of tumors.

Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 Upregulates Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Induces Human Glioma Invasion

The poor prognosis of malignant gliomas is largely attributed to their highly invasive nature. The molecular mechanism underlying the invasiveness of glioma cells, however, remains to be elucidated. The present study found that astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was upregulated in human glioma cell lines and glioma tissues compared with normal astrocytes and brain tissues. AEG-1 was found to be upregulated in 265 of 296 (89.5%) glioma sections, and the AEG-1 expression level significantly correlated with clinicopathologic stages of gliomas. Ectopic expression or short hairpin RNA silencing of AEG-1 significantly enhanced or inhibited, respectively, the invasive ability of glioma cells. At the molecular level, we showed that upregulated AEG-1 in glioma cells interacted with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) promoter and transactivated MMP-9 expression, whereas knockdown of AEG-1 expression reduced the level of MMP-9. Two regions in MMP-9 promoter were found to be involved in the interaction with AEG-1. Suppression of endogenous MMP-9 abrogated the effects of AEG-1 on invasiveness. Consistent with these observations, immunostaining analysis revealed a significant correlation between the expressions of AEG-1 and MMP-9 in a cohort of clinical glioma samples. Moreover, intracranial xenografts of glioma cells engineered to express AEG-1 were highly invasive compared with the parental cells and expressed high level of MMP-9. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that AEG-1 contributes to glioma progression by enhancing MMP-9 transcription and, hence, tumor cell invasiveness, and underscore the importance of AEG-1 in glioma development and progression.

Abstract 4372: Mechanisms involved in MMP-2 downregulation in arsenic-exposed human urothelial cells

Abstract Arsenic has been reported to induce aberrant gene expression through various mechanisms including genetic, epigenetic regulation and signaling transduction pathways. Our previous studies have shown that long-term exposure of human urothelial cell line SV-HUC-1 (HUC-1 cells) to low dose arsenic resulted in altered cell morphology, reduced cell migration activity, and suppressed expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2). To explore how MMP-2 is suppressed in arsenic exposed HUC-1 cells (iAs cells), we found that MMP-2 gene expression could be partly reverted by treatment with either demethylating agent 5-aza-dC or TGF-β alone. The enhanced expression of MMP-2 was additive by treatment of iAs cells with in combination of 5-aza-dC and TGF-β. Although we confirmed that MMP-2 promoter was hypermethylated by MSP assay, we unexpectedly found that Smad2 and Smad4 proteins were significantly suppressed in iAs cells, indicating that the canonical TGF-β pathway was deficient in iAs cells. The negligible expression level of Smad4 was confirmed by aid of a luciferase reporter containing Smad4-binding element. Alternatively, TGF-β-induced MMP-2 gene expression in HUC-1 and iAs cells could be suppressed by PKC inhibitor. Our current results suggested that TGF-β may mediate through PKC activation to induced MMP-2 expression. Taken together, MMP-2 expression in iAs cells could be reactivated by 5-aza-dC and TGF-β, indicating that arsenic exposure may be through epigenetic and signaling pathway alteration to regulate the expression of MMP-2. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4372.

Role of AP-1 and RE-1 binding sites in matrix metalloproteinase-2 transcriptional regulation in skeletal muscle atrophy

Previous work has suggested that an extracellular matrix degrading enzyme—matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) plays an important role in the development of muscle atrophy. However, the transcriptional regulation mechanism of MMP-2 in skeletal muscle atrophy remains largely unknown. Using transgenic MMP-2 promoter reporter mice, we have demonstrated that AP-1 and RE-1 binding sites in the MMP-2 promoter region, coupled with increased binding of Fra-1, Fra-2 and AP-2, play a critical role in MMP-2 transcriptional regulation in muscle atrophy. Novel information gained from this study has improved our understanding of in vivo transcriptional regulation of MMP-2 in skeletal muscle atrophy.

Allele-Specific Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Gene by Transcription Factor NFκB

BackgroundMatrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Previous studies suggested that MMP3 expression is influenced by a polymorphism (known as the 5A/6A polymorphism) in the promoter of the MMP3 gene and that this polymorphism is located within a cis-element that interacts with the transcription factor NFκB. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether MMP3 and NFκB were co-localized in atherosclerotic lesions and whether NFκB had differential effects on the two alleles of the MMP3 5A/6A polymorphism.Methodology/Principal FindingsImmunohistochemical examination showed that MMP3 and both the NFκB p50 and p65 subunits were expressed abundantly in macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions and that MMP3 expression was co-localized with p50 and p65. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed interaction of p50 and p65 with the MMP3 promoter in macrophages, with greater binding to the 5A allele than to the 6A allele. Reporter gene assays in transiently transfected macrophages showed that the 5A allele had greater transcriptional activity than the 6A allele, and that this allele-specific effect was augmented when the cells were treated with the NFκB activator lipopolysaccharides or co-transfected with p50 and/or p65 expressing plasmids, but was reduced when the cells were treated with the NFκB inhibitor 6-Amino-4-(4-phenoxyphenylethylamino)-quinazoline or transfected with a dominant negative mutant of IkB kinase-β.ConclusionThese results corroborate an effect of the 5A/6A polymorphism on MMP3 transcription and indicate that NFκB has differential effects on the 5A and 6A alleles.

HDAC4 Represses Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 Transcription in Osteoblastic Cells, and Parathyroid Hormone Controls This Repression

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a hormone regulating bone remodeling through its actions on both bone formation and bone resorption. Previously we reported that PTH induces matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) transcription in osteoblastic cells. Here, we show that histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) interacts with Runx2, binds the MMP-13 promoter, and suppresses MMP-13 gene transcription in the rat osteoblastic cell line, UMR 106-01. PTH induces the rapid cAMP-dependent protein kinase-dependent release of HDAC4 from the MMP-13 promoter and subsequent transcription of MMP-13. Knock-out of HDAC4 either by siRNA in vitro or by gene deletion in vivo leads to an increase in MMP-13 expression, and overexpression of HDAC4 decreases the PTH induction of MMP-13. All of these observations indicate that HDAC4 represses MMP-13 gene transcription in bone. Moreover, PTH stimulates HDAC4 gene expression and enzymatic activity at times corresponding to the reassociation of HDAC4 with the MMP-13 promoter and a decline in its transcription. Thus, HDAC4 is a basal repressor of MMP-13 transcription, and PTH regulates HDAC4 to control MMP-13 promoter activity. These data identify a novel and discrete mechanism of regulating HDAC4 levels and, subsequently, gene expression.

Sulfolaphane이 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)에 의해 유도된 matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) 발현에 미치는 영향

Sulforaphane은 십자가화 채소에 존재하는 화합물로 항염증, 항암 및 신생혈관 생성의 억제 효과가 알려짐으로써 최근 많은 연구가 활발히 이루어지고 있으나, LPS에 의한 MMP-9 활성 조절에 대한 연구는 매우 미흡한 편이다. 따라서 본 연구에서 sulforaphane이 LPS 유도에 의한 MMP-9 활성에 미치는 영향에 대해서 조사해 보았다. Raw 264.7 세포에 sulforaphane을 전처리 한 후 LPS를 처리하여 gelatin zymography를 실시해 본 결과, LPS에 의해 유도된 MMP-9 활성 증가가 sulforaphane 농도 의존적으로 감소됨을 확인 하였다. 또한 RT-PCR과 MMP-9의 luciferase assay를 통한 실험에서 sulforaphane의 MMP-9 억제효과가 전사단계에서 조절됨을 추측 할 수 있었다. MMP-9 promoter 부위에 여러 가지의 전사조절인자 결합부위가 존재한다. 특히 AP-1과 NF-<TEX>${\kappa}B$</TEX>가 중요 전사조절인자로 작용하여 MMP-9 발현조절에 관여한다. 본 실험에서 sulforaphane에 의한 MMP-9 억제효과 기전에 이들 전사조절인자들의 중요한 역할을 조사하였다. AP-1과 NF-<TEX>${\kappa}B$</TEX> 결합부위를 변형 시킨 vector를 transfection하여 MMP-9의 promoter 활성을 측정한 결과, 정상 vector에 비해 그 활성도가 현저히 떨어짐을 확인하였고, LPS에 의해 증가되는 AP-1과 NF-<TEX>${\kappa}B$</TEX>의 basal promoter 활성 또한 sulforaphane에 의해 감소됨을 관찰 할 수 있었다. 이상의 결과에서 sulforaphane의 MMP-9 활성억제효과는 AP-1과 NF-<TEX>${\kappa}B$</TEX>와 같은 전사인자들이 MMP-9의 전사를 조절함으로써 일어나는 것임을 알 수 있었다. 그리고 sulforaphane은 세포의 invasion능력 또한 효과적으로 억제시킴을 관찰 할 수 있었는데 이는 MMP-9 활성억제효과와 밀접한 관련이 있음을 추측 할 수 있었다. Sulforaphane is a naturally occurring member of the iosothiocyanate family, which reveals chemopreventive capacities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and inhibition of MMP-9 activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of sulforaphane on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw 264.7 cells. Sulforaphane strikingly suppressed the LPS-induced MMP-9 activity and mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, sulforaphane inhibited not only the LPS-induced MMP-9 promoter activity but also LPS-mediated activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-<TEX>${\kappa}B$</TEX>) promoter activity. Transient transfection by MMP-9 constructs, in which specific transcriptional factors were mutagenized, indicated that the effects of LPS and sulforaphane were mediated via AP-1 and NF-<TEX>${\kappa}B$</TEX> response elements. We found that sulforaphane had the ability to suppress LPS-induced invasion in vitro. Taken together, these results demonstrated that sulforaphane effectively suppressed LPS-induced MMP-9 expression via modulation of promoter elements (AP-1 and NF-<TEX>${\kappa}B$</TEX>) in MMP-9 transcriptional activation.

Tumor Suppressor HLJ1 Binds and Functionally Alters Nucleophosmin via Activating Enhancer Binding Protein 2α Complex Formation

HLJ1, a member of the heat shock protein 40 chaperone family, is a newly identified tumor suppressor that has been implicated in tumorigenesis and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer. However, the mechanism of HLJ1 action is presently obscure. In this study, we report that HLJ1 specifically interacts with the nuclear protein nucleophosmin (NPM1), forming a multiprotein complex that alters the nucleolar distribution and oligomerization state of NPM1. Enforced accumulation of NPM1 oligomers by overexpression in weakly invasive but high HLJ1-expressing cells induced the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and increased cellular migration, invasiveness, and colony formation. Furthermore, silencing HLJ1 accelerated NPM1 oligomerization, inhibited the activity of transcription corepressor activating enhancer binding protein 2alpha (AP-2alpha), and increased the activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and STAT3. Our findings suggest that HLJ1 switches the role of NPM1, which can act as tumor suppressor or oncogene, by modulating the oligomerization of NPM1 via HLJ1-NPM1 heterodimer formation and recruiting AP-2alpha to the MMP-2 promoter.

Melittin suppresses PMA-induced tumor cell invasion by inhibiting NF-kappaB and AP-1-dependent MMP-9 expression.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effect of bee venom (BV) and its major peptides, melittin and apamin, on PMA-induced invasion induced by MMP-9 expression in Caki-1 renal cancer cells. BV and melittin, but not apamin, significantly suppressed PMA-induced invasion by inhibiting MMP-9 expression in Caki-1 cells. Furthermore, as evidenced by MMP-9 promoter assays, melittin inhibited MMP-9 gene expression by blocking the PMA-stimulated activations of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB). In addition, melittin suppressed the PMA-induced phosphorylations of ERK and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases, upstream factors involved in Ap-1 and NF-kappaB. These results suggest that the suppression of MMP-9 expression contributes to the anti-tumor properties of melittin.

Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Promoter Genotype as a Marker of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Early Stage

The aim of the study was to investigate the DNA polymorphic genotype in MMP-2 promoter gene as a potential candidate region for the development of the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and/or its progression. A total of 89 Czech patients with CTCL (including 23 patients with large plaque parapsoriasis) were compared to 198 controls of similar age and sex distribution, without personal or family history of chronic skin diseases and without personal history of malignancy. The three selected polymorphisms in the promoter of MMP-2 gene (−1575G/A, −1306C/T, and −790T/G) were determined using the PCR-based methodology with RFLP. In our cohort, the associated GGCCTT MMP-2 promoter genotype was highly significantly more frequent in CTCL-Ia stage patients compared to patients with parapsoriasis, the tests having high sensitivity and specificity (78%, 83%, resp.). To conclude, use of associated MMP-2 promoter genotype as a DNA marker might make it possible to distinguish between the patients with parapsoriasis and those with CTCL stage Ia, which could substantially improve possibilities of clinical diagnostics, therapy design, and prognosis of this serious condition in the early stages.

MMP2 genetic variation is associated with measures of fibrous cap thickness: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Carotid MRI Study

ObjectiveGenetic variation in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) promoter regions alter the transcriptional activity of MMPs and has been consistently associated with CHD, presumably through plaque degradation and remodeling. We examined the association of MMP promoter variation with multiple plaque characteristics measured by gadolinium-enhanced MRI among 1700 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Carotid MRI Study. MethodsFor the analyses presented here, 1700 participants of the biracial ARIC Carotid MRI Study (∼1000 participants with thick carotid artery walls and ∼700 randomly sampled participants) were evaluated for associations of MMP genetic variation with multiple plaque characteristics, including carotid artery wall thickness, lipid core and fibrous cap measures. MRI studies were performed on a 1.5T scanner equipped with a bilateral 4-element phased array carotid coil. ResultsFifty-one percent of the participants were female, 77% white, 23% African American, and the mean age was 70 years. MMP2 C-1306T variant genotypes (CT+TT) were significantly associated with higher cap thickness measures, but not with wall thickness or lipid core measures. Individuals with the CC genotype had approximately 0.1mm thinner cap thickness compared to those carrying a T allele (P=0.02). ConclusionGenetic variation within the MMP2 promoter region was associated with cap thickness and therefore may influence the role of MMP2 in plaque vulnerability.

The cancer/testis antigen CAGE induces MMP-2 through the activation of NF-κB and AP-1

Cancer-associated antigen (CAGE) induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) by activating Akt, which in turn interacts with inhibitory kappa kinase beta (IkappaKbeta) to activate nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). Akt and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) are necessary for CAGE-mediated induction of the AP-1 subunit JunB, whereas extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) is necessary for the induction of fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1). Induction of MMP-2 by CAGE requires activator of protein-1 (AP-1) to be bound. Specific binding of JunB to MMP-2 promoter sequences was shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis.

Upregulation of MMP-2 by HMGA1 Promotes Transformation in Undifferentiated, Large-Cell Lung Cancer

Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, the precise molecular mechanisms that give rise to lung cancer are incompletely understood. Here, we show that HMGA1 is an important oncogene that drives transformation in undifferentiated, large-cell carcinoma. First, we show that the HMGA1 gene is overexpressed in lung cancer cell lines and primary human lung tumors. Forced overexpression of HMGA1 induces a transformed phenotype with anchorage-independent cell growth in cultured lung cells derived from normal tissue. Conversely, inhibiting HMGA1 expression blocks anchorage-independent cell growth in the H1299 metastatic, undifferentiated, large-cell human lung carcinoma cells. We also show that the matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gene is a downstream target upregulated by HMGA1 in large-cell carcinoma cells. In chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, HMGA1 binds directly to the MMP-2 promoter in vivo in large-cell lung cancer cells, but not in squamous cell carcinoma cells. In large-cell carcinoma cell lines, there is a significant, positive correlation between HMGA1 and MMP-2 mRNA. Moreover, interfering with MMP-2 expression blocks anchorage-independent cell growth in H1299 large-cell carcinoma cells, indicating that the HMGA1-MMP-2 pathway is required for this transformation phenotype in these cells. Blocking MMP-2 expression also inhibits migration and invasion in the H1299 large-cell carcinoma cells. Our findings suggest an important role for MMP-2 in transformation mediated by HMGA1 in large-cell, undifferentiated lung carcinoma and support the development of strategies to target this pathway in selected tumors.

Effect of Costaria costata fucoidan on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter, mRNA, and protein.

Fucoidans are sulfated fucosylated polymers from brown algae cell walls. We assessed the inhibitory effects of Costaria costata fucoidan on UVB-induced MMP-1 promoter, mRNA, and protein expression in vitro using the immortalized human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell line. Pretreatment with fucoidan significantly inhibited MMP-1 protein expression compared to UVB irradiation alone. Fucoidan significantly reduced MMP-1 mRNA expression and inhibited UVB-induced MMP-1 promoter activity by 37.3%, 53.3%, and 58.5% at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 microg/mL, respectively, compared to UVB irradiation alone. C. costata fucoidan may be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent and treat skin photoaging.

S-Adenosylhomocysteine Promotes the Invasion of C6 Glioma Cells via Increased Secretion of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Murine Microglial BV2 Cells

S-Adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) is a risk factor for many diseases, including tumor progression and neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that SAH may indirectly enhance the invasion of C6 glioma cells by induction of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) secreted from the murine microglia BV2 cells. We obtained conditioned medium (CM) by incubating BV2 cells with SAH (1-50nM) for 24 h. We found that the SAH-containing CM (SAH-BV2-CM) strongly enhanced the invasiveness of C6 glioma cells and that this effect increased with increasing concentrations of SAH in the SAH-BV2-CM. The effect of CM could be attributed to its MMP-2 activity, as a result of increased protein and messenger RNA expression of MMP-2 in BV2 cells induced by SAH. In BV2 cells treated with SAH, the binding abilities of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and stimulatory protein-1 (Sp1) to the MMP-2 promoter were increased, whereas the level of NF-kappaB inhibitor was decreased. In addition, SAH significantly increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase (or protein kinase B) (PI3K/Akt) proteins but did not affect that of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase or p38. Pretreatment of BV2 cells with an inhibitor specific for ERK (U0126) markedly abated the expression of ERK and MMP-2. Furthermore, SAH significantly and dose dependently decreased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in BV2 cells. Thus, SAH may induce the invasiveness of C6 glioma cells by decreased TIMP-2 expression and increased MMP-2 expression in BV2 cells. The latter effect is likely mediated through the ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, with increased binding activities of NF-kappaB and Sp1 to the MMP-2 gene promoter.

Differential Effects of Mechanical and Biological Stimuli on Matrix Metalloproteinase Promoter Activation in the Thoracic Aorta

The effect of multiple integrated stimuli on vascular wall expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) remains unknown. Accordingly, this study examined the influence of the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II (Ang II) on wall tension-induced promoter activation of MMP-2, MMP-9, and membrane type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP). Thoracic aortic rings harvested from transgenic reporter mice containing the MMP-2, MMP-9, or MT1-MMP promoter sequence fused to a reporter gene were subjected to 3 hours of wall tension at 70, 85, or 100 mm Hg, with or without 100 nM Ang II. Total RNA was harvested from the aortic rings, and reporter gene transcripts were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure MMP promoter activity. MT1-MMP promoter activity was increased at both 85 and 100 mm Hg, compared with baseline tension of 70 mm Hg, whereas treatment with Ang II stimulated MT1-MMP promoter activity to the same degree at all tension levels (P<0.05). Elevated tension and Ang II displayed a potential synergistic enhancement of MMP-2 promoter activation at 85 and 100 mm Hg, whereas the same stimuli caused a decrease in MMP-9 promoter activity (P<0.05) at 100 mm Hg. This study demonstrated that exposure to a relevant biological stimulus (Ang II) in the presence of elevated tension modulated MMP promoter activation. Furthermore, these data suggest that a mechanical-molecular set point exists for the induction of MMP promoter activation and that this set point can be adjusted up or down by a secondary biological stimulus. Together, these results may have significant clinical implications toward the regulation of hypertensive vascular remodeling.

Clinical significance of a single nucleotide polymorphism and allelic imbalance of matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter region in prostate cancer

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is associated with cancer invasion and metastasis. The 2G allele of the polymorphic site in the MMP-1 promoter was demonstrated to have a higher transcription activity than the 1G allele. Allelic imbalance (AI) at 11q22 harboring the MMP-1 is frequently observed in various cancers and may be associated with an advanced disease. We conducted a case-control study to determine the association of the MMP-1 genotype with susceptibility to prostate cancer involving 283 prostate cancer patients and 251 controls. Furthermore, AI, retention allele of the MMP-1 promoter, and MMP-1 protein expression were analyzed in 77 prostate cancer specimens. The MMP-1 promoter polymorphism was associated with neither susceptibility nor progression of prostate cancer. Tumors with 1G/2G and 2G/2G genotypes had a significantly higher MMP-1 expression level compared to those with 1G/1G genotype (P=0.006 and 0.013, respectively). AI at 11q22 was observed in 13 (40.6%) of 32 informative cases. Retention of the 1G and 2G alleles were observed in 4 and 9 cases, respectively. AI was significantly associated with the Gleason score (P=0.003) and pathological stage (P=0.022). In addition, retention of the 2G allele showed a significant association with the pathological stage (P=0.026). AI at 11q22 region, retention of the 2G allele, specifically appeared to be involved in the progression of prostate cancer. However, the presence of the 2G allele of the MMP-1 promoter polymorphism itself seems to influence neither the susceptibility nor the progression of prostate cancer.

Cytokines and signaling pathways regulating matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) expression in corneal epithelial cells

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a well-known regulator and effecter of many cellular processes including wound healing. In the cornea, either too much or too little MMP-9 can be detrimental to overall wound repair. We investigated the secreted factors as well as the intracellular signaling pathways and the promoter sequences that mediate this regulation. Primary culture rabbit corneal epithelial cells were treated with various cytokines alone or in different combinations and MMP-9 induction was assessed by gel zymography. Pharmacological inhibitors were used to determine the intracellular signaling pathways induced by the cytokines tested and deletion promoter constructs were created to determine the regions of the MMP-9 promoter involved in the cytokine regulation, thereby assessing the exact transcription factors binding the MMP-9 promoter. We found that two cytokine families, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and interleukin 1 (IL-1), act additively in an isoform non-specific manner to induce MMP-9 in this cell type. Our data suggest TGF-beta mediated MMP-9 induction may be regulated by the NF-kappaB, Smad3, and JNK pathways, whereas the IL-1beta mediated induction may be regulated by the NF-kappaB and p38 pathways. Inhibition of the p38, NF-kappaB, or JNK pathways significantly reduced, but did not abrogate, basal MMP-9 levels. Inhibition of the ERK pathway did not have an effect on MMP-9 mediated expression in either the treated or untreated co-transfected cells.

A small-molecule metastasis inhibitor, norcantharidin, downregulates matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression by inhibiting Sp1 transcriptional activity in colorectal cancer cells

Norcantharidin (NCTD) is a small-molecule metastasis inhibitor without renal toxicity derived from a renal toxic compound cantharidin, which is found in blister beetles ( Mylabris phalerata Pall.), commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. The anti-metastatic capacity of NCTD is apparently through the downexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity. The aim of this study was to clarify the transcriptional regulation of MMP-9 gene by NCTD in colorectal cancer CT-26 cells. NCTD not only downregulated MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression, but also inhibited gelatinase activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In CT26 cells with transfection of cis-element reporter plasmids, NCTD treatment decreased reporter luciferase activity from a Sp1 construct, augmented with a NF-κB construct, but this did not occur with an AP-1 construct. Further transfecting with constructs containing wild-type or various mutant MMP-9 promoters in CT26 cells indicated that Sp1, but not the others, was required for NCTD-inhibition of MMP-9 promoter transactivation. More evidence by electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that NCTD inhibited the DNA-binding activity of Sp1. In addition, the increase effect of NF-κB-luciferase activity by NCTD may include the upexpression of nuclear STAT1 and result in competitive suppression of NF-κB-binding activity in MMP-9 promoter. In conclusion, the metastasis inhibitor NCTD downregulates MMP-9 expression by inhibiting Sp1 transcriptional activity in colorectal cancer CT26 cells.

Effect of matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter genotype on interleukin-1beta-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production in human periodontal ligament cells

Our previous studies have shown that a single nucleotide polymorphism at nucleotide -1607 of the human matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) promoter is associated with the severity of periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different MMP-1 promoter genotypes on interleukin-1beta-induced MMP-1 production in human periodontal ligament cells. Periodontal ligament cells from 16 different subjects were cultured. Restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction was used to identify the MMP-1 promoter genotype of periodontal ligament cells. Periodontal ligament cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/interleukin-1beta. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplifications and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were then utilized to determine the MMP-1 mRNA levels and to assess the concentration of MMP-1 protein, respectively. The results showed that cells with the 1G/2G and the 2G/2G genotype produced higher amounts of MMP-1 protein than cells with the 1G/1G genotype. Induction of MMP-1 mRNA as a result of stimulation with interleukin-1beta was significantly increased in cells with a 1G/2G or a 2G/2G genotype compared with cells homozygous for the 1G allele. The results of the present study suggest that the single nucleotide polymorphism at nucleotide -1607 of the human MMP-1 promoter might influence the interleukin-1beta-induced expression of MMP-1 in periodontal ligament cells.