title: Silencing Matrix Metalloproteinases 9 and 2 Inhibits Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cell Invasion and Migration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proliferative retinal angiogenesis may severely impair the retina. Previous studies have indicated that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 play important roles in the process of retinal angiogenesis. In this study, we suppressed MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression with RNA interference (RNAi) and then observed the inhibitory effects on the invasion and migration of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Small interfering RNAs against MMP-2 mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA were synthesized. After transfection, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in HRMECs was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Cell migration and invasion were measured with a migration assay and a scratch wound assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RNAi against MMP-2 and MMP-9 successfully inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in HRMECs. MMP-2 and MMP-9 knockdown could inhibit the invasion and migration of HRMECs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the RNAi approach towards MMP-2 and MMP-9 may be a potentially effective therapeutic method for the treatment of proliferative retinal angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Yonghao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Genjie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qihong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Enliang
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Shiying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000166:cytology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9