title: K-ras regulates the steady-state expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in fibroblasts.
abstract: Fibroblasts constitutively express matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), which specifically cleaves type IV collagen, a major structural component of basement membranes. The level of MMP-2 expression was not altered by serum withdrawal, suggesting that MMP-2 expression is regulated by a series of steady-state conditions that impinge on the MMP-2 promoter. Expression of a dominant-negative Ras protein significantly inhibited MMP-2 transcription, thereby suggesting a role for steady-state Ras function in the regulation of MMP-2 expression. Kirsten-Ras (K-Ras) knockout fibroblasts express undetectable basal levels of MMP-2, whereas N-Ras knockout fibroblasts expressed constitutive levels of MMP-2 similar to those observed in wild-type control fibroblasts. Using an MMP-2 promoter-luciferase reporter assay, we demonstrated that the transcription of MMP-2 in K-Ras knockout fibroblasts was partially restored by transient expression of c-K(B)-Ras but not c-K(A)-Ras. A phosphoinositide-3 (PI-3) kinase-specific inhibitor (LY294002) decreased the basal level of MMP-2 in wild-type fibroblasts. Blocking PI-3 kinase signaling by overexpression of the regulatory domain of PI-3 kinase (p85) also down-regulated the steady-state MMP-2 levels. Fibroblasts that fail to express AKT1 also expressed decreased amounts of MMP-2 compared with wild-type fibroblasts. These data suggest that steady-state MMP-2 expression is regulated by c-K(B)-Ras through a PI-3 kinase:AKT-dependent signaling pathway. Because the majority of the MMP-2 assays were performed using conditioned media from serum-starved fibroblasts, these data also highlight our previous observations that Ras proteins have functions in the absence of acute mitogenic stimulations. In addition, this is the first demonstration of a specific steady-state function attributable to K(B)-Ras.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Janice C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wolfman
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolfman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology*; D011905:Genes, ras; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt