Association between Gene Polymorphisms and SNP-SNP Interactions of the Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 Signaling Pathway and the Risk of Vascular Senescence

Objective This study aimed to explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)in the matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2)signaling pathway and the risk of vascular senescence(VS).Methods In this cross-sectional study,between May and November 2022,peripheral venous blood of151 VS patients(case group)and 233 volunteers(control group)were collected.Fourteen SNPs were identified in five genes encoding the components of the MMP-2 signaling pathway,assessed through carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity(cf PWV),and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.The multigene influence on the risk of VS was assessed using multifactor dimensionality reduction(MDR)and generalized multifactor dimensionality regression(GMDR)modeling.Results Within the multivariate logistic regression models,four SNPs were screened to have significant associations with VS:chemokine(C-C motif)ligand 2(CCL2)rs4586,MMP2 rs14070,MMP2rs7201,and MMP2 rs1053605.Carriers of the T/C genotype of MMP2 rs14070 had a 2.17-fold increased risk of developing VS compared with those of the C/C genotype,and those of the T/T genotype had a19.375-fold increased risk.CCL2 rs4586 and MMP-2 rs14070 exhibited the most significant interactions.Conclusion CCL2 rs4586,MMP-2 rs14070,MMP-2 rs7201,and MMP-2 rs1053605 polymorphisms were significantly associated with the risk of VS.

Differences of Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 Expression between Left and Right Ventricles in Response to Nandrolone Decanoate and/or Swimming Training in Mice

Background： Matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-2 plays an important role in the remodeling of left ventricles （LVs） and right ventricles （RVs）. We investigated the differences of MMP-2 expression between LV and RV in response to nandrolone dccanoate （ND）, swimming training （ST）, and combined ND and ST （NS） in mice, based on their structural, functional, and biochemical characteristics. Methods： Totally 28 male C57B1 mice （6 weeks old; 20-23 g） were divided into four groups, including the control （n = 7）, ND （n = 6）, ST （n = 8）, and NS （n = 7） groups. After respective treatments for 8 weeks, echocardiographic examination was used to assess the cardiac structure and function. Van Gieson stain was used to examine the fibrosis of LV and RV in response to different treatments, and Western blotting analysis was performed to explore different MMP-2 expressions between LV and RV in response to ND and/or ST. Analysis of variance was used for comparing the four groups. Results： At 8 weeks, right ventricular dimension/body weight in the ND group was larger than the other three groups （F = 7.12, P 〈 0.05） according to the echocardiographic examination. Fibrosis induced by ND administration was increased more in RV （2.59%） than that in LV （2.21%）. MMP-2 expression of the ND group in RV was significantly greater than the control and NS groups in RV and the corresponding ND group in LV. Conclusion： The experimental data support the hypothesis that ND administration induces greater MMP-2 expression increase in RV compared to LV, leading to consequent RV dilation.

Immunohistochemical Studies of the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Metalloproteinase-9 in Human Prostate Cancer

To study the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 in human prostate cancer, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 were immunohistochemically detected in tissues of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Our results showed that matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 levels in prostate cancer were much higher than those in tissues of BPH, with the cancer invasion being positively correlated with the expression of the metalloproteinases. It is concluded that matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 are better molecular markers, which are of help in the diagnosis and prediction of prognosis of prostate cancer.

Lichong decoction reduces Matrix Metalloproteinases-2 expression but increases Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2 ex-pression in a rat model of uterine leiomyoma

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of Lichong decoction(LD) on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) and metalloproteinase-2(TIMP-2) in a rat model of uterine leiomyoma(UL).METHODS:UL was induced in rats using exogenous estrogen and progesterone.LD was administered(p.o.) for 4 weeks,and mifepristone(RU-486)used as a control.To observe the effect of LD on the uterine coefficient and uterine transverse diameter,a radioimmunoassay method was used to detect serum levels of sex hormones.Light microscopic analyses of pathologic changes in the tissues of UL rats were evaluated.Expression of the proteins of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases(TIMPs) in uterine tissues was assessed by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting.RESULTS:A UL model in rats was established successfully.LD reduced uterine weight,uterine coefficient,and uterine transverse diameter compared with untreated controls.LD reduced levels of estradiol,progesterone,follicle-stimulating hormone,and luteinizing hormone in our UL models.LD improved the pathologic condition of uterine muscle.Expression of MMP-2 protein decreased to varying extents in LD-treated groups,but TIMP-2 levels were enhanced.LD appears to reduce MMP-2 expression and increase TIMP-2 expression in UL tissue.CONCLUSION:These data suggest that the mechanism of action of LD on ULs may involve reduction of MMP-2 expression and increase in TIMP-2 expression in rats.

Atorvastatin reduces myocardial fibrosis in a rat model with post- myocardial infarction heart failure by increasing the matrix metaHoproteinase-2/tissue matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-2 ratio

Background The cholesterol-lowering statin drugs have some non-lipid-lowering effects, such as inhibiting myocardial remodeling. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Methods The left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to establish a rat model of heart failure, and the rats were divided into a sham operation （SO） group, myocardial infarction model （MI） group, and MI-atorvastatin group. Changes in hemodynamic parameters were recorded after the final drug administration. Histological diagnosis was made by reviewing hematoxylin and eosin （HE） stained tissue. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （PCR） was performed to determine the expressions of type I and type III collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2）, and tissue matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-2 （TIMP-2）. Further, primary rat cardiac fibroblasts were cultured and the MTT assay was performed to determine the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac fibroblast proliferation. Results The model of heart failure was established and the results of HE staining and Masson＇s trichrome staining revealed that the rats in the heart failure group showed obvious hyperplasia of fibrotic tissue, which was significantly reduced in the atorvastatin group. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the MI group showed a significantly increased expression of type I and type III coltagen, MMP-2, and TIMP-2, but a significantly reduced MMP-2/T＇IMP- 2 ratio. Compared with the MI group, the atorvastatin group showed significantly reduced expression of type I and III collagen, unchanged expression of MMP-2, significantly reduced expression of TIMP-2, and an increased MMP-2/ TIMP-2 ratio. We further found that atorvastatin significantly inhibited the Ang II-induced fibroblast proliferation and the expression of type I and type III collagen in cardiac fibroblasts while increasing the MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio. Conclusions These data suggest that atorvastatin can inhibit cardiac fibroblast proliferation and enhance collagen degradation by increasing the MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio, thereby inhibiting the formation of myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Galectin-9 Promotes Human Trophoblast Cell Invasion through Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and p38 Signaling Pathway

Objective:Adequate extravillous trophoblast(EVT)invasion plays a crucial role in the establishment of successful pregnancy.Insufficient trophoblast migration and invasion can result in defective placentation,which is associated with a number of clinical pathological conditions of pregnancy including spontaneous abortion and preeclampsia.Galectin-9(Gal-9)has a wide variety of regulatory functions in innate and adaptive immunity during infection,tumor growth,and organ transplantation.Methods:We utilized immortalized human first-trimester EVT cells(HTR8/SVneo)for our functional study.We examined the effects of Gal-9 on viability,proliferation,and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells,as well as on matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2)production in HTR8/SVneo cells.Furthermore,we observed the effects of different MAPK-signaling pathway inhibitors on the stimulatory functions of Gal-9 on HTR8/SVneo cells’invasion.Results:We verified the secretion of Gal-9 by trophoblasts and detected a correlation between low levels of Gal-9 and spontaneous abortion.Gal-9 promoted the invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells through its interaction with Tim-3,not CD44,and subsequently increased MMP-2 production.Blockade of p38 signaling pathway inhibited Gal-9 activities in HTR8/SVneo cells.Conclusion:Gal-9 promotes human trophoblast cell invasion through MMP-2 and p38 signaling pathway in a Tim-3-dependent manner.

Puerarin, an isoflavone compound extracted from Gegen (Radix Puerariae Lobatae), modulates sclera remodeling caused by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of puerarin [an isoflavone compound extracted from Gegen(Radix Puerariae Lobatae)] in scleral remodeling induced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields(ELF-EMFs).METHODS: Human fetal scleral fibroblasts(HFSFs)were divided into 5 groups:(a) untreated controls;(b) cells treated with ELF-EMFs;(c) cells treated with ELF-EMFs and puerarin 0.1 μM;(d) cells treated with ELF-EMFs and puerarin 1 μM;(e) cells treated with ELF-EMFs and puerarin 10 μM. Cell proliferation activity was measured by the cell-counting kit-8 assay. Matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) activity was measured by gelatin enzymography.MMP-2 and collagenⅠ(COL1A1) m RNA, protein expression were measured by Real-Time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, respectively.RESULTS: Puerarin reduced the inhibition in cell proliferation, MMP-2 activity, m RNA, protein expression of HFSFs exposed to ELF-EMFs and enhanced the COL1A1 m RNA and protein expression.CONCLUSION: Puerarin was found to participate in the matrix remodeling process. It might be a potential agent for the treatment of extracellular matrix degradation of sclera associated with ocular conditions.