title: Distinct populations of stromal cells express collagenase-3 (MMP-13) and collagenase-1 (MMP-1) in chronic ulcers but not in normally healing wounds.
abstract: Proteolysis is an intrinsic component of cutaneous wound repair and several matrix metalloproteinases have been shown to participate in various stages of this process. Therefore, we investigated the expression of a novel metalloproteinase, collagenase-3 (MMP-13), in normally healing cutaneous wounds and chronic venous ulcers. MMP-13 was expressed abundantly by fibroblasts deep in the chronic ulcer bed but was not detected in epidermis and all the acute wounds. The spatial expression of MMP-13 differed from that of collagenase-1 (MMP-1), which was prominently expressed by migrating keratinocytes and dermal cells located just beneath the wound surface. Northern blot hybridization did not reveal expression of MMP-13 by fibroblasts cultured on tissue culture plastic. In accordance with our in vivo findings, however, fibroblasts grown in a collagen gel produced MMP-13 mRNA abundantly. Our results suggest that MMP-13 can be induced in skin during wound repair after altered cell-matrix interactions. Although both MMP-1 and MMP-13 have the unique ability to degrade fibrillar collagens, their regulation and role during wound repair seem different. Collagenase-1 is critical for re-epithelialization, and MMP-13 most likely plays a role in the remodeling of collagenous matrix in chronic wounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaalamo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kariniemi
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Karjalainen-Lindsberg
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Kähäri
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Saarialho-Kere
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017364:Collagenases / Q000235:genetics*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007871:Leg Ulcer; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D012883:Skin Ulcer; D017154:Stromal Cells; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017364:Collagenases; C507079:MMP13 protein, human; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1