title: Thymocyte development in the absence of matrix metalloproteinase-9/gelatinase B.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play critical roles in a variety of immune reactions by facilitating cell migration, and affect cell communication by processing both cytokines and cell surface receptors. Based on published data indicating that MMP-9 is upregulated upon T cell activation and also in the thymus upon the induction of negative selection, we investigated the contribution of MMP-9 into mouse T cell development and differentiation in the thymus. Our data suggest that MMP-9 deficiency does not result in major abnormalities in the development of any conventionally selected or agonist selected subsets and does not interfere with thymocyte apoptosis and clearance, and that MMP-9 expression is not induced in immature T cells at any stage of their thymic development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology, REGA Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven 3000, Belgium.|Electron Microscopy Platform, Center for the Biology of Disease VIB and Center for Human Genetics KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Natalia V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Gounko
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology, REGA Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology, REGA Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ghislain
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opdenakker
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology, REGA Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vasily
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rybakin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9