title: Thrombin and TNF-alpha/IL-1beta synergistically induce fibroblast-mediated collagen gel degradation.
abstract: Degradation of preexisting and newly synthesized extracellular matrix is thought to play an important role in tissue remodeling. The current study evaluated whether thrombin and TNF-alpha/IL-1beta could collaboratively induce collagen degradation by human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) and adult bronchial fibroblasts cultured in three-dimensional collagen gels. TNF-alpha/IL-1beta alone induced production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-1, -3, and -9, which were released in latent form. With the addition of thrombin, the latent MMPs were converted into active forms and this resulted in collagen gel degradation. Part of the activation of MMPs by thrombin resulted from direct activation of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 in the absence of cells. In addition, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 production was inhibited by the combination of thrombin and TNF-alpha/IL-1beta. These results suggest that thrombin and TNF-alpha/IL-1beta synergize to induce degradation of three-dimensional collagen gels through increasing the production and activation of MMPs, and that this effect is mediated through both direct activation of MMPs by thrombin and indirectly by thrombin activation of fibroblasts. Through such mechanisms, thrombin could contribute to many chronic lung disorders characterized by tissue remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, First Hospital of Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qiuhong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Xiangde
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Mugotir
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohyama
authors.forename: Stephen I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Rennard
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005782:Gels; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003094:Collagen; D013917:Thrombin; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted