title: Preservation of rabbit aorta elastin from degradation by gingival fibroblasts in an ex vivo model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Embryo-like gingival healing properties are attributed to the gingival fibroblast (GF) and could be used as a model for other types of healing dysfunctions. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation is associated with elastin degradation and increase in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity. We aimed to validate the concept of using GF healing properties in arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated MMP-9 and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1) in rabbit aortic rings cultured in collagen gels with or without GFs and observed throughout 21 days. We also performed cocultures of human smooth muscle cells (hSMCs) with either gingival, dermal, or adventitial fibroblasts, and alone (control). In control arteries, elastic fibers became spontaneously sparse. In presence of GFs, elastic fibers were preserved. There was a dramatically reduced protein level of MMP-9 in coculture of aorta and GFs, in contrast with control aorta. MMP-9 expression was unaffected by GFs. MMP-9 inhibition was related to increased TIMP-1 secretion, TIMP-1 forming a complex with MMP-9. Cell cocultures of hSMC with GFs showed similar results. Dermal and adventitial fibroblasts did not affect MMP-9.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elastic fiber degradation was specifically preserved by GFs via reduction of MMP-9 protein level by increasing TIMP-1 synthesis. Vascular transfer of gingival fibroblasts could be a promising approach to treat AAA.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U 849-Université Paris-Descartes, Faculté de Médecine de Necker, 156, rue de Vaugirard, Paris 75730 Cedex 15 France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gogly
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naveau
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Nicoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinald
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brasselet
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coulomb
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lafont
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000628:therapy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D004549:Elastin; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9