Expression and activation of MMP -2, -3, -9, -14 are induced in rat colon after abdominal X-irradiation.
OBJECTIVE
Colonic response to single-dose irradiation is characterized by epithelial denudation followed by restitution. Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is involved in both of these phases. The aim of this study was to characterize the contribution of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and of their stimulatory and inhibitory pathways in radiation-induced ecm remodeling in colonic tissue.


METHODS
Rats were irradiated with single-dose 10 Gy X-rays to the abdomen. Activity, localization, and mRNA levels of MMPs and molecules involved in their activation and inhibition (plasmin/plasminogen; TIMPs), of inflammatory mediators (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha) in the distal colon, 1, 3, and 7 days after irradiation were analyzed using a combination of approaches including zymography, immunohistochemistry, and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The main finding of this study is that radiation-induced alteration of the mucosal structure is concomitant with local increased expression and activation of MMP subtypes involved in basement membrane degradation (MMP-2, -3, and -9). We investigated MMP-2 activation pathways and found an early increase in mRNA levels of soluble inflammatory mediators (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta). Furthermore, transcription and activity of MMP-2 activating molecules, such as MMP-14, and molecules involved in the plasminogen/plasmin system were found to increase during the denudation phase. Interestingly, induction of MMP inhibitors TIMP-1 and PAI-1 was observed during the restitution phase. MMP inhibitors may be able to stop acute wound healing response by inhibiting ECM degradation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study brings new insights into ECM remodeling in the colon after exposure to ionizing radiation and highlights the role of MMP subtypes specialized in basement membrane degradation.
Strup-Perrot
Carine
C
Laboratoire de Radiopathologie, SRBE/DRPH, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France. carine.strup@irsn.fr
Vozenin-Brotons
Marie-Catherine
MC
Vandamme
Marie
M
Benderitter
Marc
M
Mathe
Denis
D
D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D007375:Interleukin-1; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9