We have previously shown that stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) by bradykinin (BK) in murine inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD)-3 cells is mediated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation. The mechanism of EGFR transactivation seemed to be novel, because it does not require phospholipase C, Ca(2+), calmodulin, protein kinase C, G alpha(i)...

Cerebrovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and about one-fourth of cerebrovasculardeaths are due to ruptured cerebral aneurysms (CA). Hence it is important to find a way to reduce aneurysmformation and its subsequent morbidity and mortality. Proteolytic activity capable of lysing gelatin hasbeen shown to be increased in aneurysm tissue and expression of plasmin,...

Background & objective Pruritus is the most frequent chronic dermal complication of sulfur mustard (SM), which negatively influences the quality of life. Exact pathophysiology of SM-induced itching is unknown. The current study aimed at evaluating the possible association between SM-induced itching and the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and their endogenous inhibitors, and ser...

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important enzymes for extracellular matrix degradation. Cleavage of collagen by MMP-8 is an important regulator of tissue remodeling in wound healing and repair, but it also contributes to the exacerbation of several inflammatory diseases and can serve a protective role in early stages of cancer. In addition through its enzymatic activity, MMP-8 directly eff...

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 ...

MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade both matrix and non-matrix proteins. They play an important role in morphogenesis, and in a wide range of processes including tissue repair and remodelling. Their abnormal expression contributes to pathological processes including arthritis, cancer, and cardiac and central nervous system diseases, which explains the...

Cancer-derived matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proposed to be essential for tumor stromal invasion and subsequent metastasis. To explore the role of MMPs in cancer progression, we examined the expression of various MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs in precancerous and cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that MMP-2 and MMP-9 were expressed in >...

Equivalent long-term effects on the kidney are attributed to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARB). Nevertheless, it is unknown to which degree effects of these compounds on individual inflammatory mediators, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), are comparable. On the basis of structural and functional differences, it was hypothe...