title: Cleaved high molecular weight kininogen, a novel factor in the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases in vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: We previously reported that Brown Norway Katholiek rats, which feature a deficiency of plasma kininogens, develop severe abdominal aortic aneurysm. Increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the aortic wall, leading to degradation of extracellular matrix components, is considered to play a crucial role in aneurysm formation. Using an in vitro model of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), cultured from the rat aorta, we investigated whether the cleaved form of high molecular weight kininogen, designated HKa, affects the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). Treatment of VSMCs with HKa reduced in a concentration-dependent manner IL-1alpha-induced release of MMP-9 and MMP-2, associated with decreased MMP enzymatic activity levels in conditioned media, as demonstrated by gelatin zymography and fluorescein-labeled gelatin substrate assay, respectively. Real-time PCR revealed that HKa reduced corresponding MMP-9 mRNA levels. Further investigations showed that this effect did not result from a modified rate of MMP-9 mRNA degradation. TIMP-1 mRNA levels, already increased as a result of cytokine-stimulation, were significantly enhanced by HKa. Furthermore, we found elevated basal mRNA expression levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in VSMCs derived from kininogen-deficient Brown Norway Katholiek rats. These results demonstrate for the first time that HKa affects the regulation of MMPs in VSMCs.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiovascular Research/Institute of Pharmacology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Strasse 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vosgerau
authors.forename: Diljara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaschina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers; D007704:Kininogens / Q000502:physiology*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007704:Kininogens; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases