title: Immunolocalization of membrane-type 1 MMP in human rheumatoid synovium tissues.
abstract: Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, also known as MMP14), the best characterized membrane-anchored MMP, is an important matrix-degrading proteinase that could digest a broad spectrum of extracellular matrix proteins and accelerate angiogenesis. We have previously reported that some MMPs involved in the angiogenesis and the pannus formation within the joint, leading to the erosion of articular cartilage and bone in the pathological process of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry assay and con-focal scanning technique to study the detailed immunolocalization of MT1-MMP in human RA synovium tissues as well as the infiltrating immune cell subsets. Our results showed that the positive MT1-MMP immunostaining could be found in synoviocytes, vascular endothelial cells, infiltrating macrophages and monocytes in RA synovium tissues, while weak or negative immunostaining could be found in infiltrating T cells, B cells and NK cells, respectively. Moreover, the Ki-67(+) highly proliferating synoviocytes also showed higher MT1-MMP expression in RA synoviocytes. Thus, the aberrant expression of MT1-MMP in RA synoviocytes as well as infiltrating immune cells may contribute to the proliferation of the synoviocytes, and the angiogenesis and the pannus formation in RA pathological progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Si
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Testing Center, Center for Disease Prevention and Control Changzhou 213000, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Fengming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Wen'ge
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Lujun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yahua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14
keywords: MT1-MMP; con-focal scanning; immunostaining; pannus; rheumatoid arthritis