We characterized a novel extracellular matrix element that is present in the earliest developmental stages of Xenopus laevis, and is recognized by an mAb 3D7. Based on amino acid composition, breakdown patterns by bacterial collagenases, and the molecular weights of the components of the antigen (240, 200, and 140 kD), we found it very similar to mammalian collagen type VI. The antigen is evenl...

Increased production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been associated with increases in invasive and metastatic potential in many types of human carcinoma. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 inhibits most interstitial collagenases and MMP-9. TIMP-2 binds specifically and noncovalently to the pro-form of MMP-2 and inhibits its enzyme activity. In this study, we examined TIMP-...

Angiostatin, a cleavage product of plasminogen, has been shown to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation and metastatic tumor cell growth. Recently, the production of angiostatin has been correlated with tumor-associated macrophage production of elastolytic metalloproteinases in a murine model of Lewis lung cell carcinoma. In this report we demonstrate that purified murine and human matrix meta...

PURPOSE Amniotic membrane transplantation is currently being used as an alternative approach to treat severe corneal surface disorders refractory to medical therapy. The authors report complications of corneal surface disorders after successful amniotic membrane transplantation. METHODS Case series. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients with corneal surface disorders due to severe chemical burns, c...

Doxycycline is a commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotic. Recently, it has been shown that it also inhibits the activity of mammalian collagenases and gelatinases, an activity unrelated to its antimicrobial efficacy. In this study, we show that doxycycline not only inhibits MMP-8 and MMP-9 (gelatinase B) activity, but also the synthesis of MMPs in human endothelial cells. Doxycycline (50 microM...

» ...pro-inflammatory activity of MMP13 not by ‘simply’ degrading extracellular matrix but through the release of biologically active soluble TNFa from its membrane bound precursor form. « For decades, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been described as rather unspecific matrix‐ and collagen‐degrading enzymes. Accordingly, this group of proteases was mainly associated with tissue remodeling...

We have examined the antimetastatic effects of taxol on a PC-3 human prostatic tumor variant (PC-3 ML) which metastasizes to the lumbar vertebrae in severe combined immunodeficiency-carrying (SCID) mice. Immunofluorescence labeling indicated that taxol (0.5 to 1.0 JUMfor 6 h) produced an abnormal bundling of microtubules in a dosage-dependent manner. Slot blotting and gelatinase assays revealed...