Increased matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells cultured from abdominal aortic aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE
Recent evidence has implicated matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) in the pathogenesis of aneurysms. The aim of this study was to examine MMP-2 production and expression by aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and dermal fibroblasts derived from patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).


METHODS
Aortic SMCs and dermal fibroblasts were cultured from patients with AAAs or from age-matched controls with atherosclerosis. The production of MMP and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase into culture media was analyzed with the use of gelatin zymography, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gene expression was analyzed with Northern blotting.


RESULTS
All cells studied constitutively produced MMP-2. Aortic SMCs cultured from aneurysmal tissue expressed MMP-2 protein and messenger RNA at a significantly higher level than SMCs from controls (P =.008). Dermal fibroblasts from patients with AAAs expressed MMP-2 at a similar level to controls. In both cell types, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 and membrane type 1-MMP were expressed at similar levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggested that the regulation of MMP-2 gene expression was altered in the aortic SMCs of patients with aneurysms, but this finding was not repeated in other mesenchymal tissue.
Crowther
M
M
Department of Surgery and the Department of Pathology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
Goodall
S
S
Jones
J L
JL
Bell
P R
PR
Thompson
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values
D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2