Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases in mice intracorneally infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the presence of membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) in the cornea and their expression in naive and immunized mice intracorneally infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


METHODS
Naive (unimmunized) and immunized C57BL/6J mice were infected with P. aeruginosa, and gene expression of MT-MMPs were detected by RT-PCR. Immunoblot analysis and immunostaining were also used to characterize the MT-MMP response in both sets of animals.


RESULTS
Expression of MT1-MMP, MT2-MMP, and MT3-MMP (MMP 14, 15, and 16) was detected by RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis. Of the three MT-MMPs detected, MT1-MMP exhibited the greatest expression at protein levels. In general, a bell-shaped curve was obtained for each of the MT-MMPs in naive mice, but all of them showed much less expression in the immunized mice. MT1-MMP was localized in the epithelial tissue of the cornea, whereas MT2-MMP and MT3-MMP were mainly found in the interface between the epithelium and substantia propria.


CONCLUSIONS
MT1-MMP was detected and expressed to a greater extent in naive mice than MT2-MMP and MT3-MMP. Peak expression of all three MT-MMPs showed a good correlation with the overall inflammatory response.
Dong
Z
Z
Departments of Immunology and Microbiology and. Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Ghabrial
M
M
Katar
M
M
Fridman
R
R
Berk
R S
RS
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014945:Wound Healing
D017931:DNA Primers; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; C000715430:Mt3 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases