title: Matrix metalloproteinases produced by rat IL-2-activated NK cells.
abstract: We have previously documented that adoptively transferred IL-2-activated NK (A-NK) cells can accumulate within cancer metastases. Electron microscopic studies of pulmonary metastases have revealed that adoptively transferred A-NK cells that accumulate within metastases bind to endothelial cells and are able to traverse basement membranes. We have now extended these morphologic studies. We report that rat A-NK cells produce two matrix metalloproteinases: MMP-2 and MMP-9, as determined by SDS-PAGE gelatin zymography. These activities are inhibited following incubation with BB-94 (batimastat), a specific inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases but not with 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin, an inhibitor of neutral serine proteases. The identity of MMP-2 was confirmed by Western blots using a polyclonal Ab against human MMP-2, whereas reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis of mRNA extracts of A-NK cells has confirmed the presence of MMP-9. In addition, we report for the first time that A-NK cells can migrate through a model basement membrane-like extracellular matrix. Moreover, the ability of A-NK cells to migrate through this model basement membrane was partially inhibited by BB-94; however, BB-94 has no effect on A-NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting that matrix metalloproteinases do not contribute to cytolytic function of A-NK cells. In sum, our studies show that A-NK cells employ BB-94-inhibitable matrix metalloproteinases to degrade extracellular matrices. This suggests that matrix metalloproteinases may play a role in the accumulation of A-NK cells within cancer metastases.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kitson
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Appasamy
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nannmark
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albertsson
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gabauer
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017364:Collagenases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017364:Collagenases; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9