The balance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) plays an important role in extracellular matrix turnover and thereby modulates atherosclerotic plaque development. MMP-1, -2, -3, and -9 activity is increased by atherosclerosis, but the status of TIMPs is less clear. We therefore compared secretion of TIMPs-1 and -2 from cultured aortic explants derived ...

Innovative non-destructive 2D imaging methods such as zymography and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) have been developed recently to assess the distribution of phosphatase activity labile solutes at root-soil interface. We report on first combination these techniques for spatial potential interaction phosphorus (P) associated acid rhizosphere blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) two contr...

Cultured human embryonic lung fibroblasts were used as a model to study the effects of transforming growth factor-13 (TGFI3) on the plasminogen activator (PA) activity released by nontumorigenic cells into the culture medium. The cells were exposed to TGFfl under serum-free conditions, and the changes in PA activity and protein metabolism were analyzed by caseinolysis-in-agar assays, zymography...

Respiratory tract lesions induced by the chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard (SM) are characterized by epithelial damages associated with inflammatory cell infiltration. Here we evaluated the imbalance between gelatinase and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and we tested pretreatment with the protease inhibitor doxycycline. Guinea pigs were intoxicated intratracheally with SM ...

AIM To determine whether matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) may be a useful adjunctive tool for predicting unfavorable biological behavior of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) by evaluating the expression profile and proteolytic activity of MMP-9 in PTC by different techniques and correlating the findings with clinicopathological prognostic factors. METHODS Immunohistochemical localization of...

BACKGROUND Sclerosing peritonitis (SP) and encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) are serious complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Although we have shown previously that matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is increased in peritoneal injury leading to SP/EPS, most of the MMP-2 in the dialysate drained from the peritoneal cavity was the latent form that was lacking activit...

Inhibition of gelatinolytic activity in implanted tumor tissues by oral administration of N-biphenyl sulfonyl-phenylalanine hydroxamic acid (BPHA), a selective matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, was demonstrated by means of film in situ zymography (FIZ). Active-MMP-2 but not pro-MMP-2 showed gelatinolytic activity in FIZ, whereas both forms of MMP-2 were found to be active in conventiona...

Cultured human embryonic lung fibroblasts were used as a model to study the effects of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) on the plasminogen activator (PA) activity released by nontumorigenic cells into the culture medium. The cells were exposed to TGF beta under serum-free conditions, and the changes in PA activity and protein metabolism were analyzed by caseinolysis-in-agar assays, zy...