Background: Enhanced activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been reported to have a pathogenic role in several diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders, and seems also to play a part in certain autoimmune diseases. Objective: To examine whether enhanced MMP activity may also have a role in the pathogenesis of Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG). Methods: In a study group of 15 p...

Our aim was to examine some parameters of oxidative status, gelatinases, and their inhibitors and to evaluate their interrelationships in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). We enrolled 65 MS subjects, subdivided according to the presence or not of diabetes mellitus. We examined lipid peroxidation (expressed as thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, TBARS), protein oxidation (expressed as ...

Lipopolysaccharides or endotoxins elicit an excessive host inflammatory response and lead to life-threatening conditions such as endotoxemia and septic shock. Lipopolysaccharides trigger mobilization and stimulation of leukocytes and exaggerated production of pro-inflammatory molecules including cytokines and proteolytic enzymes. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) or gelatinase B, a protease st...

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) are thought to be associated with the pathogenesis and spread of psoriatic disease. This study was designed to investigate the plasma levels of MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-3 in plaque psoriasis patients prior to and following a course of ultraviolet B narrowband treatment with respect to disease advancement. METHODS Pla...

Inhibition of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) has been shown in vivo to decrease metastasis and tumor-associated angiogenesis. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the role of these proteins at the pericellular microenvironment of tumor and endothelial cells. Secretion of MMPs by tumor cells enables the migration, invasion and metasta...

Pro-MMP2 activation is a two-step process resulting in (1) an intermediate 64 kDa form generated by the MT1-MMP activity, and (2) a mature 62 kDa form. Addition of plasminogen to HT1080 cells cultured under various conditions, or to their membrane preparation, induced a complete conversion of the intermediate MMP-2 form to the mature one, and processing of pro-MMP-9. The pro-MMP-2 activation wa...

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a retinal disease representing one of the main causes vision loss in developed countries. In early stage DR, disruption blood barrier (BRB) observed, and it will lead to vascular permeability visual impairment. Therefore, protection against breakdown BRB may be useful strategy for prevention DR. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) plays an important role degradation ex...

Although recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is successfully used for thrombolysis in human stroke, it may increase the risk of haemorrhagic complications. It was shown that the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system is critically involved in basal lamina degradation after middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion following rt-PA administration. We describe the effects of dif...

Author manuscripts have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication but have not yet been edited. Acknowledgements: We thank the members of the Sampson, Zucker and Cao labs for their insightful discussions and suggestions on the manuscript, and Kevin Zarrabi for his help with editing and Dr. Francis Johnson for his critical reading. We are also grateful to J. Shipman and T. Balius for their...