title: Differential regulation of metzincins in experimental chronic renal allograft rejection: potential markers and novel therapeutic targets.
abstract: Chronic renal allograft rejection is characterized by alterations in the extracellular matrix compartment and in the proliferation of various cell types. These features are controlled, in part by the metzincin superfamily of metallo-endopeptidases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) and meprin. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of metzincins in the established Fisher to Lewis rat kidney transplant model. Studies were performed using frozen homogenates and paraffin sections of rat kidneys at day 0 (healthy controls) and during periods of chronic rejection at day +60 and day +100 following transplantation. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was examined by Affymetrix Rat Expression Array 230A GeneChip and by real-time Taqman polymerase chain reaction analyses. Protein expression was studied by zymography, Western blot analyses, and immunohistology. mRNA levels of MMPs (MMP-2/-11/-12/-14), of their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1/-2), ADAM-17 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 significantly increased during chronic renal allograft rejection. MMP-2 activity and immunohistological staining were augmented accordingly. The most important mRNA elevation was observed in the case of MMP-12. As expected, Western blot analyses also demonstrated increased production of MMP-12, MMP-14, and TIMP-2 (in the latter two cases as individual proteins and as complexes). In contrast, mRNA levels of MMP-9/-24 and meprin alpha/beta had decreased. Accordingly, MMP-9 protein levels and meprin alpha/beta synthesis and activity were downregulated significantly. Members of metzincin families (MMP, ADAM, and meprin) and of TIMPs are differentially regulated in chronic renal allograft rejection. Thus, an altered pattern of metzincins may represent novel diagnostic markers and possibly may provide novel targets for future therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Berthier
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lods
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Joosten
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Kooten
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leppert
authors.forename: R L P
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kappeler
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raulf
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Sterchi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lottaz
authors.forename: H-P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Marti
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics*; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C053833:meprin A; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; C000606464:Adam17 protein, rat