Regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell expression and function of matrix metalloproteinases is mediated by estrogen and progesterone exposure.
OBJECTIVE
Postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have been reported to have more adverse outcomes after vascular reconstructions, including increased intimal hyperplasia development and bypass graft failure. HRT may be affecting the pathway contributing to intimal hyperplasia. An important component of this pathway involves matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), implicated in vascular remodeling due to their ability to degrade components of the extracellular matrix. We hypothesize that estrogen (Est) and progesterone (Prog) upregulate the MMP pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) thereby increasing MMP activity and function.


RESULTS
VSMCs were incubated with Est (5 ng/mL), Prog (50 ng/mL), Est + Prog combination (Est/Prog), and/or doxycycline (40 microg/mL; Doxy). Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis we have previously shown membrane type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels are significantly increased by Est. Here, Western blot analyses indicated MT1-MMP and MMP-2 protein levels, not tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 (TIMP-2), were increased in response to Est and Est/Prog (P < .05 vs control). In-gel zymography revealed that Est and Est/Prog resulted in increased MMP-2 activity (hormone groups, P < .05 vs control) with no significant difference among the hormone groups. VSMC migration was increased by 45 +/- 14% in response to Est (P < .05 vs control), as measured using a modified Boyden chamber assay. Doxycycline significantly inhibited basal and Est/Prog-stimulated increases in MMP-2 activity (P < .05 vs control; P < .05 vs hormone groups), and partially blocked basal and hormonally stimulated migration (P < .05 vs control and Est).


CONCLUSIONS
Estrogen and progesterone affects the MMP pathway by increasing MMP-2 enzymatic activity, possibly via the upregulation of MT1-MMP expression without a corresponding increase in TIMP expression. This increased collagenase activity increases VSMC motility and their ability to migrate through a collagen type IV lattice. Est/Prog upregulation of MT1-MMP may contribute to the adverse effect of HRT on vascular interventions.
Grandas
Oscar H
OH
Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Ograndas@mc.utmck.edu
Mountain
Deidra H
DH
Kirkpatrick
Stacy S
SS
Cassada
David C
DC
Stevens
Scott L
SL
Freeman
Michael B
MB
Goldman
Mitchell H
MH
D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism
D024141:Collagen Type IV; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C507086:MMP14 protein, human; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14; D004318:Doxycycline