Production of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (interstitial collagenase) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (gelatinase A: 72 kDa gelatinase) by ovine endometrial cells in vitro: different regulation and preferential expression by stromal fibroblasts

• DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0980583
• Publication Date: 2004-03-20T06:55:52Z
• Authors: L. A. Salamonsen; H. Nagase; R. Suzuki; D. E. Woolley
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Sheep; Phenylmercuric Acetate; Metalloendopeptidases; Fibroblasts; Luteal Phase; Immunohistochemistry; Enzyme Activation; Endometrium; 03 medical and health sciences; Gelatinases; Animals; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Female; Collagenases; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; Cells, Cultured

Ovine endometrial cells (epithelial plus stromal), prepared from ovariectomized ewes treated with oestrogen and progesterone to mimic the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle were maintained in serum-free medium for 48 h in the presence or absence of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 100 nmol l-1), a known stimulus for production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) in other cells. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1, interstitial collagenase) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2, gelatinase A) activities were expressed by the cells in the absence of PMA; most were in the latent form and required activation by (4-aminophenyl) mercuric acetate (APMA). Exposure to PMA over 48 h resulted in a significant increase in MMP-1 activity but only a modest and nonsignificant increase in MMP-2 activity. Gelatin zymography demonstrated that proMMP-2 (72 kDa) was produced by both PMA-treated and untreated cells and an active form of 67 kDa was also present. Immunolocalization of MMP-1 and MMP-2 was seen within the cells following treatment with monensin. Highly purified epithelial and stromal cells were similarly cultured and analysis of the conditioned medium showed that MMP-1 and MMP-2 were produced predominantly by stromal rather than epithelial cells. Thus, both MMP-1, which degrades interstitial collagens, and MMP-2, an important enzyme for degradation of type IV and V collagens, are synthesized and released by ovine endometrial stromal cells in culture, but MMP-1 is produced primarily upon stimulation, whereas MMP-2 production is constitutive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)