Chronic hypoxia results in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension characterized by fibrotization and muscularization of the walls of peripheral pulmonary arteries. This vessel remodeling is accompanied by an increase in the amount of lung mast cells (LMC) and the presence of small collagen cleavage products in the vessel walls. We hypothesize that hypoxia activates LMC, which release matrix metalloprot...

Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) migration mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is required for lung development and repair after injury such as hyperoxia. Of specific interest in lung remodeling are the gelatinases, which are upregulated in AEC after hyperoxia. We correlated migration and gelatinase production in AEC cultured from fetal, adult, and hyperoxic rats. Fetal AEC (19-20 days) ...

The aim of this study is to determine the mechanism of sepsis-induced vascular hyperpermeability and the beneficial effect of glucocorticoid in protecting vascular endothelium. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given either a bolus intraperitoneal injection of a nonlethal dose of LPS (Escherichia coli 055:B5, 10 mg/kg, Sigma) or vehicle (pyrogen-free water). Animals of treatment groups were also gi...

The multicenter study conducted by Lorente and coworkers published in the previous issue of Critical Care demonstrates that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-10 and their inhibitor tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) are promising novel biomarkers to predict severity and outcome of sepsis. In recent years MMPs have emerged as biomarkers in a variety of diseases, such ...

OBJECTIVE Blood flow is altered in metabolic and ischemic diseases with dramatic consequences. Resistance arteries structure and function remodel in response to chronic blood flow changes through a mechanism remaining mainly unknown. We hypothesized that the NO pathway and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) activation might play a role in flow (shear stress)-induced microvascular remodeling. METH...

Endometrial matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extensively studied in humans. However, owing to the distinct differences of the estrous cycle of bitches, the expression and activities of endometrial MMPs regulated by sex hormones should be significantly different. To understand the effect of sex hormones on the activity of MMPs, this study investigates the activities of endometrial MMP-2 and ...

Differentiation is the cellular process that regulates development of long bones and joint surface cartilage of synovial cavities. Growth plate cartilage development is commonly referred to as endochondral ossification which is the end stage of long bone development. Endochondral ossification proceeds as a continuum of chondrocyte proliferation cycles followed by non-proliferative phases couple...

BACKGROUND Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by infiltrating and intrinsic renal cells is increased in inflammatory conditions, and may correlate with disease activity of glomerulonephritis. We analysed renal expression of MMPs, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and markers of neutrophil and monocyte infiltration in renal biopsies of patients with active anti-neutrop...

INTRODUCTION Matrix metalloproteinase enzymes (MMPs) play important role in inflammation, malignant cell proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis by mediating extracellular matrix degradation. Doxycycline, a synthetic tetracycline, behaves as a MMP inhibitor at a subantimicrobial dose and inhibits tumor cell proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis. The aberrant activity of nuclear factor kappa...

Mutable collagenous tissues (MCTs) of echinoderms show reversible changes in tensile properties (mutability) that are initiated and modulated by the nervous system via the activities of cells known as juxtaligamental cells. The molecular mechanism underpinning this mechanical adaptability has still to be elucidated. Adaptable connective tissues are also present in mammals, most notably in the u...