This study describes induction of pulmonary inflammation, production of matrix metalloprotease of type 2 (MMP-2) and type 9 (MMP-9), and emphysema in cadmium (Cd)-exposed rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into two groups: one placebo-exposed group undergoing saline (NaCl 0.9%) inhalation (n = 30) and one Cd-exposed group undergoing cadmium (CdCl2 0.1%) inhalation (n = 30). The...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Our previous studies have shown that bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) home to a brain angiogenic focus. The angiogenic response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulation is reduced in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) knockout mice. We hypothesized that BMDCs contribute to VEGF-induced angiogenesis by supplying MMP-9. METHODS Bone marrow (BM) transplant...

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of nucleosides on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of mouse oocytes. Oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCCs) were collected from large antral follicles 4 h after eCG-hCG treatment and cultured in maturation medium with or without nucleosides (4 ribo- and 4 deoxyribonucleosides) for 12 h. A majority of the oocytes examined developed to the metap...

Lack of target specificity by existing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors has hindered antimetastatic cancer drug discovery. Inhibitors that bind to noncatalytic sites of MMPs and disrupt protease signaling function have the potential to be more specific and selective. In this work, compounds that target the hemopexin (PEX) domain of MMP-9 were identified using an in silico docking appro...

Antibiotics may impair hematopoietic recovery after cytotoxic myeloablation Patients recovering from myelotoxic chemotherapy require antibiotic treatment to prevent infectious complications, because of their immunocompromised status. Antibiotics such as doxycylin and tetracyclin are known to inhibit matrix metallopro-teinases (MMPs) including MMP-9. 1-3 Recent studies revealed that hematopoieti...

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that degrade multiple components the extracellular matrix. significant role MMPs in tumor invasion, neoangiogenesis and metastasis presented it as ideal pharmacological targets for cancer therapy. effects ursolic acid (UA) on metalloproteinase (MMP) gene expression, cell invasion migration were investigated MDA MB- 231 lin...

angiotensin ii, the main component of the renin-angiotensin system, is associated with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, vascular remodeling and inflammation. remodeling process results from dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (mmps) and their tissue inhibitors (timps). mmps are considered as important target genes for angiotensin ii. the aim of this study was to determine th...

Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with cerebrovascular disease and activates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which lead to vascular remodeling that could disrupt the blood-brain barrier. To determine whether Hcy administration can increase brain microvascular leakage secondary to activation of MMPs, we examined pial venules by intravital video microscopy through a craniotomy in...

AIM Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) have been shown to block matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity, which plays a role in atherogenesis. MMP-9 activity of macrophages is increased during foam cell formation. To investigate the contribution of ACEIs to foam cell formation, we studied the effects of an ACEI, imidaprilat, on THP-1 macrophages and the underlying molecular mecha...

PURPOSE The purpose is to assess the prognostic significance of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in patients with bladder cancer using a combination of ELISA (to measure MMP-9 in voided urine) and immunohistochemistry (to study MMP-9 in bladder tumors). The relationship between MMP-9 and its principal inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 (in voided urine samples) was also s...