Alendronate promotes plasmin-mediated MMP-9 inactivation by exposing cryptic plasmin degradation sites within the MMP-9 catalytic domain

Long non-coding RNA LUCAT1 promotes tumourigenesis by inhibiting ANXA2 phosphorylation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in diverse biological processes; however, current understanding of the mechanism underlying the regulation of tumour proliferation and metastasis is limited. Lung cancer‐associated transcript 1 (LUCAT1) has been reported in a variety of human cancers, while its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the biological role and underlying mechanism of LUCAT1 on progression and metastasis in HCC cells and clinical specimens. Our results demonstrated that LUCAT1 was up‐regulated in HCC tissues and cells. Loss‐ and gain‐of‐function studies revealed that LUCAT1 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, RNA pulldown and Western blot assays indicated that LUCAT1 inhibited the phosphorylation of Annexin A2 (ANXA2) to reduce the degradation of ANXA2‐S100A10 heterotetramer (AIIt), which in turn accelerated the secretion of plasminogen into plasmin, thereby resulting in the activation of metalloprotease proteins. In conclusion, we propose that LUCAT1 serves as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC.

Role of Morphometry and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression in Differentiating between Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia and Low Grade Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

Background: Endometrial carcinomas are common gynecologic malignancies worldwide. In Egypt they represent 2.6 %. We evaluated the role of morphometry and MMP-9 immunohistochemical expression to differentiate atypical endometrial hyperplasia from low grade endometrial adenocarcinoma. Methods: 60 cases of endometrial lesions that included 25 cases of complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia, 25 cases of low grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma, in addition to 10 cases of proliferative endometrium as a control group. Morphometric measurements and D-score were evaluated. MMP9 was performed using streptavidin –biotin immunoperoxidase system. Results: D score was more than 1 in 100% of cases of proliferative endometrium. In atypical hyperplasia 28 % of cases had a D-score more than 1, 44% less than 0 and 28% of cases had a D score between 0 and 1 with uncertain prognosis. All carcinoma cases had D-score less than 0. MMP9 was positive in all cases of the study but differ in its degree of expression; proliferative endometrium with low expression. Atypical hyperplasia divided as 52% low expression and 48% high expression. Most of the Endometrial adenocarcinoma cases (92%) showed high expression. There was significant difference in expression of MMP9 in atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma (p> 0.001). Conclusion: The relation between MMP9 expression and D-score value in cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia was highly significant P>0.001Thus, incorporating both MMP9 immunoexpression and D-score value would increase the accuracy of diagnosis of atypical endometrial hyperplasia and low grade endometrial adenocarcinoma.

ATIQCTPC targeting MMP-9: a key step to slowing primary tumor growth and inhibiting metastasis of lewis lung carcinoma in vivo

In this study we docked (6S)-3-acetyl-4-oxo-N-(2-(3,4,5,6-zetrahydroxytetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-carboxamido)ethyl)-4,6,7,12-tetrahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizine-6-carbo-xamide (ATIQCTPC) towards the active site of MMP-9, and showed that ATIQCTPC was able to effectively decrease the level of MMP-9 in the serum and the primary tumor of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) implanted C57BL/6 mice. As a MMP-9 inhibitor, ATIQCTPC inhibited the metastasis of LLC, and slowed the growth of the primary tumor of LLC implanted C57BL/6 in mice. The activities of ATIQCTPC to inhibit the ear edema and to decrease the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-8 of the mice treated with xylene were explored. The minimal effective dose of ATIQCTPC that can inhibit the primary tumour growth, prevent the metastasis of LLC and reduce the inflammatory response was 0.01 μmol/kg. The minimal effective dose of ATIQCTPC inhibiting tumour growth and metastasis was 100-fold lower than that of (S)-3-acetyl- 4-oxo-4,6,7,12-tetrahydroindolo[2,3-a]quinolizine-6-carboxylic acid (ATIQC, parent compound). The minimal effective dose of ATIQCTPC inhibiting inflammation was 110-fold lower than that of aspirin. These superiorities reflected the rationality of ATIQCTPC design. The safety of the therapy was explained by 1 μmol/kg of ATIQCTPC did not injure the kidney, the liver and the heart of the treated inflammation mice.

Matrix Metalloproteinases in Bone Resorption, Remodeling, and Repair

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the major protease family responsible for the cleavage of the matrisome (global composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteome) and proteins unrelated to the ECM, generating bioactive molecules. These proteins drive ECM remodeling, in association with tissue-specific and cell-anchored inhibitors (TIMPs and RECK, respectively). In the bone, the ECM mediates cell adhesion, mechanotransduction, nucleation of mineralization, and the immobilization of growth factors to protect them from damage or degradation. Since the first description of an MMP in bone tissue, many other MMPs have been identified, as well as their inhibitors. Numerous functions have been assigned to these proteins, including osteoblast/osteocyte differentiation, bone formation, solubilization of the osteoid during bone resorption, osteoclast recruitment and migration, and as a coupling factor in bone remodeling under physiological conditions. In turn, a number of pathologies, associated with imbalanced bone remodeling, arise mainly from MMP overexpression and abnormalities of the ECM, leading to bone osteolysis or bone formation. In this review, we will discuss the functions of MMPs and their inhibitors in bone cells, during bone remodeling, pathological bone resorption (osteoporosis and bone metastasis), bone repair/regeneration, and emergent roles in bone bioengineering.

Regulation and involvement of matrix metalloproteinases in vascular diseases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc dependent endopeptidases whose main function is to degrade and deposit structural proteins within the extracellular matrix (ECM). A dysregulation of MMPs is linked to vascular diseases. MMPs are classified into collagenases, gelatinases, membrane-type, metalloelastase, stromelysins, matrilysins, enamelysins, and unclassified subgroups. The production of MMPs is stimulated by factors such as oxidative stress, growth factors and inflammation which lead to its up- or down-regulation with subsequent ECM remodeling. Normally, excess activation of MMPs is controlled by their endogenous inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). An imbalance of MMPs and TIMPs has been implicated in hypertension, atherosclerotic plaque formation and instability, aortic aneurysms and varicose vein wall remodeling. Also, recent evidence suggests epigenetic regulation of some MMPs in angiogenesis and atherosclerosis. Over the years, pharmacological inhibitors of MMPs have been used to modify or prevent the development of the disease with some success. In this review, we discuss recent advances in MMP biology, and their involvement in the manifestation of vascular disease.

Gelatinase B/MMP-9 in Tumour Pathogenesis and Progression

Since its original identification as a leukocyte gelatinase/type V collagenase and tumour type IV collagenase, gelatinase B/matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is now recognised as playing a central role in many aspects of tumour progression. In this review, we relate current concepts concerning the many ways in which gelatinase B/MMP-9 influences tumour biology. Following a brief outline of the gelatinase B/MMP-9 gene and protein, we analyse the role(s) of gelatinase B/MMP-9 in different phases of the tumorigenic process, and compare the importance of gelatinase B/MMP-9 source in the carcinogenic process. What becomes apparent is the importance of inflammatory cell-derived gelatinase B/MMP-9 in tumour promotion, early progression and triggering of the "angiogenic switch", the integral relationship between inflammatory, stromal and tumour components with respect to gelatinase B/MMP-9 production and activation, and the fundamental role for gelatinase B/MMP-9 in the formation and maintenance of tumour stem cell and metastatic niches. It is also apparent that gelatinase B/MMP-9 plays important tumour suppressing functions, producing endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors, promoting inflammatory anti-tumour activity, and inducing apoptosis. The fundamental roles of gelatinase B/MMP-9 in cancer biology underpins the need for specific therapeutic inhibitors of gelatinase B/MMP-9 function, the use of which must take into account and substitute for tumour-suppressing gelatinase B/MMP-9 activity and also limit inhibition of physiological gelatinase B/MMP-9 function.

Involvement of plasminogen cascade proteins in the invasion of pancreatic cancer cells

AIM: To discuss the potential role of plasminogen cascade proteins in the dissociation and subsequent invasion of pancreatic cancer cells.

METHODS: The expression of plasminogen, urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPA receptor (uPAR) was detected by Western blot and immunocytochemistry in cell lines and by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples of pancreatic cancer. The correlation between expression of plasminogen cascade proteins and cell dissociation and invasion was analyzed.

RESULTS: Plasminogen, uPA and uPAR were strongly expressed in conditioned medium of dissociated pancreatic cancer cells (PC-1.0), but weakly expressed in conditioned medium of non-dissociated pancreatic cancer cells (PC-1). uPA treatment significantly induced the expression of plasminogen and uPAR in conditioned medium of non-dissociated pancreatic cancer cells (PC-1). Stronger expression of plasminogen and uPAR was observed at the invasive front end than at the center of human pancreatic cancer tissue. Plasmin treatment induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-7 and MMP-9 expression in PC-1 cells. Treatment with plasmin or uPA obviously induced invasiveness and dissociation of cell colonies in PC-1 cells.

CONCLUSION: The plasminogen cascade is involved in cell dissociation in the early stage of invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. The plasminogen cascade may be a potential molecular target for anti-invasion and anti-metastasis therapy for pancreatic cancer.