title: Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase potentiates basic fibroblast growth factor-induced corneal neovascularization.
abstract: Corneal neovascularization is one of the leading causes of blindness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pro-angiogenic role of corneal fibroblast-derived membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced corneal neovascularization in vivo and in vitro. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that MT1-MMP was expressed in keratocytes and immortalized corneal fibroblast cell lines. Vascular endothelial growth factor protein levels were increased after bFGF-stimulation of wild-type fibroblast cells compared with MT1-MMP knockout fibroblast cells. Corneal vascularization was significantly increased after a combination of bFGF pellet implantation and naked MT1-MMP DNA injection in wild-type mouse corneas compared with either bFGF pellet implantation or naked MT1-MMP DNA-injected corneas. Western blotting analysis of the phosphorylation levels of the key signaling molecules (p38, JNK, and ERK) demonstrated that phosphorylation levels of both p38 and JNK were diminished after bFGF stimulation of MT1-MMP knockout cells compared with wild-type and MT1-MMP knockin cells. These results suggest that MT1-MMP potentiates bFGF-induced corneal neovascularization, likely by modulating the bFGF signal transduction pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1855 West Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onguchi
authors.forename: Kyu Yeon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jin-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Dimitri T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Azar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C507096:Mmp14 protein, mouse; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14