Matrix metalloproteinases in biologic samples

Purification and characterization of amylases from three freshwater fish species providing new insight application as enzyme molecular markers for zymography

Purification of amylases from digestive tracts of three freshwater fish species with Q-Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephacryl S-200 columns displayed two isoforms of amylases from Osteochilus hasselti (O1, O2) and three isoforms of those from both Hampala dispar (UB, H1, H2) and Puntioplites proctozystron (P1, P2, P3). The optimum pH values displayed at 7.0 and 8.0, while the optimum temperatures revealed at 40 and 50 °C. Almost isoenzyme activities were activated by NaCl and CaCl2, whereas EDTA and SDS strongly inhibited all enzymatic activities. Verification with an atomic absorption spectrophotometry exhibited the presence of Ca2+ ions in the range of 0.02-13.53 ppm per mg protein indicating that amylases are Ca2+ dependent. Molecular weight analysis revealed 12 to 147 kDa. The UB, O1, and H2 amylases with appropriate molecular masses of 64, 49, and 25 kDa validated with LC-MS/MS were selected. Three certain enzymes revealed high stability in a sample buffer after five cycles of freeze-thawing process upon storage at - 20 °C for 12 weeks. No protein degradation was observed on polyacrylamide gel, and the enzymes still displayed sharp and clear bands on zymograms. The result suggested that the purified fish amylases, which expressed high activities and stabilities, were potentially used as enzyme molecular weight markers for zymography.

Characterization of Active MMP9 in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases Using a Novel Anti-MMP9 Antibody

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), a protease implicated in multiple diseases, is secreted as an inactive zymogen and requires proteolytic removal of the pro-domain for activation. The relative levels and functionality of the pro- and active-MMP9 isoforms in tissues are not characterized. We generated a specific antibody that distinguishes an active form of MMP9, F107-MMP9, from the inactive pro-MMP9 isoform. Using multiple in vitro assays and specimen types, we show that F107-MMP9 expression is localized and disease-specific compared with its more abundant parental pro-form. It is detected around sites of active tissue remodeling, including fistulae of inflammatory bowel and dermal fissures in hidradenitis suppurativa, and is expressed by myeloid cells, including macrophages and neutrophils. Together, our findings provide insights into the distribution and potential role of MMP9 in inflammatory diseases.

Cell Based Therapeutic Approach in Vascular Surgery: Application and Review

Multipotent stem cells - such as mesenchymal stem/stromal cells and stem cells derived from different sources like vascular wall are intensely studied to try to rapidly translate their discovered features from bench to bedside. Vascular wall resident stem cells recruitment, differentiation, survival, proliferation, growth factor production, and signaling pathways transduced were analyzed. We studied biological properties of vascular resident stem cells and explored the relationship from several factors as Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and regulations of biological, translational and clinical features of these cells. In this review we described a translational and clinical approach to Adult Vascular Wall Resident Multipotent Vascular Stem Cells (VW-SCs) and reported their involvement in alternative clinical approach as cells based therapy in vascular disease like arterial aneurysms or peripheral arterial obstructive disease.

Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Inhibit Gliosis in Retinal Degeneration by Downregulation of the Müller Cell Notch Signaling Pathway

Retinal regeneration and self-repair, whether in response to injury or degenerative disease, are severely impeded by glial scar formation by Müller cells (specialized retinal macroglia). We have previously demonstrated that the activation of Müller cells and gliosis in the degenerative retina are significantly suppressed by the subretinal transplantation of a mixture of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and olfactory nerve fibroblasts. However, the underlying molecular mechanism has remained elusive. Here we transplanted purified rat OECs into the subretinal space of pigmented Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, a classic rodent model of retinal degeneration. Using behavioral testing and electroretinography, we confirmed that the grafted OECs preserved the visual function of rats for 8 weeks, relative to vehicle controls (phosphate-buffered saline). Histological evaluation of outer nuclear layer thickness and composition demonstrated that more photoreceptors and ON-bipolar cells were preserved in the retinas of OEC-treated RCS rats than in controls. The grafted OECs migrated into the outer plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, and inner plexiform layer. They interacted directly with Müller cells in the retina of RCS rats, in three distinct patterns, and secreted matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 3. Previous studies have demonstrated that rat OECs express delta-like ligand (DLL), while Müller cells express Notch3, the receptor for DLL. Here we found that the grafted OECs significantly decreased the expression, by retinal cells, of Notch signaling pathway components (including Notch3, Notch4, DLL1, DLL4, Jagged1, Hes1, and Hes5) 2 weeks after the cell transplantation and that this effect persisted for a further 2 weeks. Based on these findings, we suggest that transplanted OECs inhibit the activation of Müller cells and the associated gliosis, at least partly through suppression of the Notch pathway.

Immunoassay analysis of proteins in gingival crevicular fluid samples from resorbing teeth

Objective: 

To carry out an immunoassay analysis of biomarkers expressed in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) with the main goal of finding a useful diagnostic pattern to distinguish between resorbing deciduous teeth and nonresorbing controls.

Materials and Methods: 

A split-mouth design was used in this study with a total of 22 GCF samples collected from 11 patients in the mixed dentition. For each child, one deciduous molar with radiographic evidence of root resorption was used as the test tooth whereas the contralateral first permanent molar with formed roots was used as the control tooth. Samples were processed with immunoassays using a panel of selected biomarkers including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and dentin sialoprotein (DSP).

Results: 

There were no statistically significant differences in levels of IL-1b, OPG, and MMP-9 between test and control sites (P > .05). IL-1RA was the only biomarker to show a significant down-regulation (P  =  .04) in GCF samples collected from resorbing teeth. RANKL data showed a heavily skewed distribution and was deemed unreliable. Only one deciduous GCF sample had detectable levels of DSP; therefore, no further statistical calculation was applicable because of the limited amount of data for this biomarker.

Conclusions: 

This study indicated that IL1-RA is down-regulated in GCF from resorbing primary molars, thus suggesting this cytokine as a potential analyte to be included in a panel that can discriminate between resorbing and nonresorbing teeth.

Adult vascular wall resident multipotent vascular stem cells, matrix metalloproteinases, and arterial aneurysms

Evidences have shown the presence of multipotent stem cells (SCs) at sites of arterial aneurysms: they can differentiate into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and are activated after residing in a quiescent state in the vascular wall. Recent studies have implicated the role of matrix metalloproteinases in the pathogenesis of arterial aneurysms: in fact the increased synthesis of MMPs by arterial SMCs is thought to be a pivotal mechanism in aneurysm formation. The factors and signaling pathways involved in regulating wall resident SC recruitment, survival, proliferation, growth factor production, and differentiation may be also related to selective expression of different MMPs. This review explores the relationship between adult vascular wall resident multipotent vascular SCs, MMPs, and arterial aneurysms.