MMP‐2 dysfunction in African Americans Endothelial Cells: Potential Biomarker of Hypertension Risk?

• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.837.6
• Publication Date: 2023-11-26T17:55:47Z
• Authors: Marc D Cook; Maitha Aldokhayyil; Adelola Adeyemo; Bo Fernhall; Michael Brown

BackgroundMMP‐2 is a biomarker that has been associated with systolic hypertension and arterial stiffness African Americans (AA). Endothelial cells (EC) constitutively express MMP‐2, where it mediates extracellular matrix turnover, and its dysfunction likely has some role in vascular function. In a small cohort of young AA and Caucasian (CA) men, we have data showing an inverse moderate correlation between circulating MMP‐2, carotid BP (r=−0.555), and aortic BP (r=−0.509) in AA (n=14) with no relationship in CA (n=18). In this preliminary in vitro study, we postulated a racial difference concerning MMP‐2 activity which contributes to endothelial dysfunction (EnDy) in AA.MethodsThe present preliminary work evaluated gene and protein expression and activity (via zymography) of secreted MMP‐2 in 4 AA and 4 CA primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).ResultsMMP‐2 gene (>2‐fold increase, t2.8, 12: p=0.01*; Fig 1a) and protein (~2‐fold increase p=0.07; Fig 1b) expression were higher in AA. However, secreted MMP‐2 activity was significantly lower in AA EC (>2‐fold decrease t2.2, 14: p=0.04; Fig 2).ConclusionThese in vitro data highlight EnDy in AA primary EC and suggest that blunted MMP‐2 activity may contribute to endothelial‐mediated vascular dysfunction (reduced extracellular matrix maintenance) and subsequent hypertension risk in AA. Further studies are necessary, and underway, to investigate the epigenetic and post‐translational regulation of MMP‐2 and its vasoactive properties in AA EC.Support or Funding InformationDepartmental