Activated protein C stimulates proliferation, migration and wound closure, inhibits apoptosis and upregulates MMP-2 activity in cultured human keratinocytes.
Activated protein C (APC) is a physiological serine protease that regulates blood clotting and inflammation. Keratinocytes are a major cell type of human skin and play a fundamental role in normal skin metabolism and cutaneous wound healing. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role of APC on the function of human primary cultured keratinocytes. In an in vitro wounding assay, APC accelerated wound closure which was due jointly to increased cell proliferation and migration. APC attenuated calcium-induced cell death via prevention of cell apoptosis, as indicated by a decrease in both active caspase-3 and morphologically apoptotic cells. APC dramatically enhanced the expression and activation of MMP-2 by keratinocytes, whilst having no effect on MMP-9. GM6001, a broad spectrum MMP inhibitor, abolished cell migration in a dose-dependent manner and delayed in vitro wound healing. APC also significantly increased the production of IL-6 and IL-8 and suppressed calcium- and LPS-stimulated NF-kappaB activity. These results demonstrate a central role for APC in promoting cell proliferation and migration, preventing apoptosis and increasing MMP-2 activity in cultured keratinocytes. This regulatory activity implicates APC as having potential to promote re-epithelialisation during wound healing.
Sutton Arthritis Research Laboratory, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. mlxue@med.usyd.edu.au
Meilang
M
Xue
Patrick
P
Thompson
Ian
I
Kelso
Chris
C
Jackson
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011486:Protein C; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D002118:Calcium