Using homology search, structure prediction, and structural characterization methods we show that the C-terminal domains of (1) netrins, (2) complement proteins C3, C4, C5, (3) secreted frizzled-related proteins, and (4) type I procollagen C-proteinase enhancer proteins (PCOLCEs) are homologous with the N-terminal domains of (5) tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The proteins harb...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Excessive degradation of the vascular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can lead to structural instability of vessels. In this study we examined the expression of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs). METHODS We performed gelatin zymography for MMPs and Western blot for MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-...

OBJECTIVES To investigate expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil and to correlate expression profiles with clinicopathological characteristics. METHODS Paraffin blocks were obtained from 45 tonsil squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients, who underwent surgery as an initial treatment between 19...

Objective. Although angiotensin II-mediated inflammation and extracellular matrix accumulation are considered to be associated with the progression of diabetic nephropathy, these processes have not yet been sufficiently clarified. The objective of this study was to determine whether the correction of the abnormal renal expression of MMPs and its inhibitors (MMPs/TIMPs) and cytokines following t...

MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases), ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) and TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases) are implicated in invasion and angiogenesis: both are tissue remodeling processes involving regulated proteolysis of the extracellular matrix, growth factors and their receptors. The expression of these three groups and their correlations with clinical behaviour has ...

Effects of progesterone receptor modulator CDB-2914 on the expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components were examined in cultured human uterine leiomyoma and myometrial cells. ECM metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMPs) and collagen levels were assessed by Western blot analysis, MMP activity assay and real-time RT-PCR. R...

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH or GnRH) is not only produced by hypothalamus, but also by other normal and cancer tissues. GnRH peptide agonists and antagonists inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells, but their effect on the expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) has not been studied despite the fact that growth and invasiveness of bre...

PURPOSE Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is an uncommon tumor of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium associated with risk of permanent visual impairment. The purposes of this study were to (1) identify and localize potential mediators in tissue from patients with OSSN and (2) culture human dysplastic conjunctival epithelial cells (DCECs) to determine their responsiveness to ultravio...

Apart from their involvement in the pathogenesis of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, there is emerging evidence that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) also promote remyelination. We investigated region-specific expression patterns of 11 MMPs and 4 tissueinhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the cuprizone murine demyelination model. Messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted at di...

Fibroblasts comprise the largest cell population in the myocardium. In heart disease, the number of fibroblasts is increased either by replication of the resident myocardial fibroblasts, migration and transformation of circulating bone marrow cells, or by transformation of endothelial/epithelial cells into fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. The primary function of fibroblasts is to produce structu...