title: Acrolein-activated matrix metalloproteinase 9 contributes to persistent mucin production.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a global public health problem, is characterized by progressive difficulty in breathing, with increased mucin production, especially in the small airways. Acrolein, a constituent of cigarette smoke and an endogenous mediator of oxidative stress, increases airway mucin 5, subtypes A and C (MUC5AC) production; however, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, increased mMUC5AC transcripts and protein were associated with increased lung matrix metalloproteinase 9 (mMMP9) transcripts, protein, and activity in acrolein-exposed mice. Increased mMUC5AC transcripts and mucin protein were diminished in gene-targeted Mmp9 mice [Mmp9((-/-))] or in mice treated with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, erlotinib. Acrolein also decreased mTissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase protein 3 (an MMP9 inhibitor) transcript levels. In a cell-free system, acrolein increased pro-hMMP9 cleavage and activity in concentrations (100-300 nM) found in sputum from subjects with COPD. Acrolein increased hMMP9 transcripts in human airway cells, which was inhibited by an MMP inhibitor, EGFR-neutralizing antibody, or a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 3/2 inhibitor. Together these findings indicate that acrolein can initiate cleavage of pro-hMMP9 and EGFR/MAPK signaling that leads to additional MMP9 formation. Augmentation of hMMP9 activity, in turn, could contribute to persistent excessive mucin production.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA.
authors.forename: Hitesh S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shaver
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Case
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dietsch
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wesselkamper
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hardie
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Korfhagen
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corradi
authors.forename: Jay A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nadel
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Borchers
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Leikauf
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013183:Sputum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C524679:Muc5ac protein, mouse; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3; D000171:Acrolein; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9