Evidence of the pathological roles of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in various neurological disorders has made them attractive therapeutic targets. MMPs disrupt the blood-brain barrier and cause neuronal death and neuroinflammation in acute cerebral ischemia and are critical for angiogenesis during recovery. However, some challenges have to be overcome before MMPs can be further validated as...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic mitogen, plays a crucial role in angiogenesis under various pathophysiological conditions. We have recently demonstrated that VEGF(165), one of the VEGF isoforms, binds connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and that its angiogenic activity is inhibited in the VEGF(165).CTGF complex form (Inoki, I., Shiomi, T., Hashimoto, G., Enomot...

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are gelatinases that take part in several reproductive processes. The aim of this study was to measure levels MMP-2 fractionated stallion ejaculates, evaluate the association between these components semen quality, sperm longevity during cooled storage. Semen quality were assessed separately for sperm-rich fractions (HIGH), sperm-poor (LOW), whole ejac...

Background: Many studies have been conducted on the sika deer, an extinct species in Korea, to analyze physiological characteristics of restoration and reproductive characteristics. The mechanisms water deer especially function, morphological changes, ovarian characteristics, are unknown. Objective: We aimed study differences physiology determine difference function through analysis cell remode...

BACKGROUND Bone microvascular remodeling is the primary predictor of bone structure and function. Remodeling by its very nature implies synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Normally, 50% of total protein in the vessel wall is elastin. During remodeling, elastin is degraded by specialized matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Because the turnover of elastin is 1000-fold slower than...

Success in chronic wound therapy requires careful selection of appropriate dressing, which enables effective management of wound exudate. According to current knowledge, exudate may contain large quantities of proteases, including matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are responsible for delay in wound healing. Therefore, neutralization of MMPs may be beneficial for treatment effica...

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to analyze alpha 2 Macroglobulin/MMP (alpha 2M/MMP) complex formation and to investigate whether MMP activity in alpha 2M/MMP complexes in serum can be used as a disease marker in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS High and low molecular weight (H/LMW) substrates and inhibitors and size exclusion were used to analyze alpha 2M/MMP complex formation. L...

OBJECTIVES Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) mediates in part both ischemia-reperfusion and pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced injury to the heart. As oxidants like ONOO(-) are known to activate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), we examined whether they play a role in the detrimental action of ONOO(-) in isolated perfused rat hearts. METHODS Hearts were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and perfused ret...