Increased matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells cultured from abdominal aortic aneurysms

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 575 - 583
• Main Authors: Crowther, Mathew, Goodall, Stephen, Jones, J.Louise, Bell, Peter R.F., Thompson, Matthew M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.09.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - genetics; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - pathology; Aortic Diseases - genetics; Aortic Diseases - pathology; Arteriosclerosis - genetics; Arteriosclerosis - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cells, Cultured; Diseases of the aorta; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Humans; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - genetics; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - pathology; Reference Values; Human; Cell culture; Enzyme; Pathogenesis; Aneurysm; Cardiovascular disease; Metalloendopeptidases; Smooth muscle; Gelatinase A; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Abdominal aorta; Peptidases; Hydrolases; Aortic disease
• DOI: 10.1067/mva.2000.108010
• ISSN: 0741-5214

Objectives: Recent evidence has implicated matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) in the pathogenesis of aneurysms. The aim of this study was to examine MMP-2 production and expression by aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and dermal fibroblasts derived from patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods: Aortic SMCs and dermal fibroblasts were cultured from patients with AAAs or from age-matched controls with atherosclerosis. The production of MMP and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase into culture media was analyzed with the use of gelatin zymography, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gene expression was analyzed with Northern blotting. Results: All cells studied constitutively produced MMP-2. Aortic SMCs cultured from aneurysmal tissue expressed MMP-2 protein and messenger RNA at a significantly higher level than SMCs from controls (P =.008). Dermal fibroblasts from patients with AAAs expressed MMP-2 at a similar level to controls. In both cell types, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 and membrane type 1–MMP were expressed at similar levels. Conclusions: These data suggested that the regulation of MMP-2 gene expression was altered in the aortic SMCs of patients with aneurysms, but this finding was not repeated in other mesenchymal tissue. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:575-83.)