title: 14-3-3epsilon protein increases matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene expression via p38 MAPK signaling in NIH3T3 fibroblast cells.
abstract: One of the 14-3-3 protein isoforms, 14-3-3epsilon, was previously shown to be increased during skin aging. We suggest here a possible role for the 14-3-3epsilon protein in skin aging by providing evidence that 14-3-3epsilon increases the expression of the matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 gene in NIH3T3 fibroblast cells. Expression of the 14-3-3epsilon gene in NIH3T3 cells primarily up-regulated the expression of the MMP-2 gene at the transcriptional level by inducing specific DNA binding proteins bound to an upstream region of the MMP-2 promoter from -1,629 to -1,612. Inhibition of endogenous 14-3-3epsilon gene expression by RNA interference also decreased endogenous MMP-2 gene expression. Furthermore, up-regulation of the MMP-2 gene by 14-3-3epsilon was suppressed by expression of a dominant-negative mutant of p38 MAP kinase. These findings strongly suggest that increased expression of 14-3-3epsilon contributes to remodeling of extracellular matrix in skin through increasing MMP-2 gene expression via p38 MAP kinase signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Youn Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hansol
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cheol Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seok Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park