Expression of stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), gelatinase B (MMP-9), and plasminogen activator system during fetal calvarial development.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether degrading proteases can be found in patent calvarial sutures. Sutural growth and fusion means replacement of the sutural connective tissue, rich in fibronectin and collagen type V, by expanding calvarial bone. Proliferation of one tissue into the border area of another implies the presence of enzymes able to degrade extracellular matrix (ECM). An important family of proteases is the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), as is the plasminogen/plasmin system.


RESULTS
Expression of two MMPs with substrate specifity for fibronectin and collagen type V and of the plasminogen activator system was studied by immunohistochemistry in samples of human fetal calvariae (age range weeks 19-35 of gestation). In all cases, intense staining for MMPs, urokinase, and urokinase receptor was found in the sutural connective tissue and along the outer and inner borders of calvarial bone.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that degradation of sutural connective tissue takes place during sutural growth. This might facilitate proliferation of calvarial bone. Recently, it was shown that an important regulatory mechanism of sutural growth is apoptosis of osteoblasts in the osteogenic front. Intact fibronectin is known to prevent apoptosis of proliferating osteoblasts while fibronectin degradation induces their apoptosis.
Zeitler
P
P
Department of Paediatrics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. pazy01@yahoo.de
Pahnke
J
J
Marx
A
A
D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D005341:Fibrinolysin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9