Production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3 is selectively enhanced by calcium pentosan polysulfate in human rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of calcium pentosan polysulfate (CaPPS) on the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP), in cultures of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts.

METHODS

The production of MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -8, -9, and -13 and of TIMP-1, -2, -3, and -4 in cultured rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts treated with 0.1, 1, and 10 microg/ml CaPPS in the presence and absence of 100 units/ml interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) was examined by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay system and/or immunoblotting. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of TIMP-3 and membrane type 1 MMP was determined by Northern blotting, and the cells expressing TIMP-3 gene in rheumatoid synovium were identified by in situ hybridization. The synthesis and secretion of TIMP-3 protein were monitored by pulse-chase experiments. TIMP-3 was immunolocalized in untreated or CaPPS-treated rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts and synovium using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method.

RESULTS

Treatment of cultured rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts with CaPPS resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the production of TIMP-3 in both cell lysates and media from the treated cells. However, CaPPS did not affect the levels of the other MMPs or TIMPs examined. The production of TIMP-3 was further enhanced in the cells treated with both IL-1alpha and CaPPS. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the enhanced production of TIMP-3 by cells exposed to CaPPS. The mRNA level of TIMP-3 increased 3.4-fold by treating rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts with IL-1alpha, but CaPPS itself did not alter the expression levels in the IL-1alpha-treated or -untreated cells. Pulse-chase studies demonstrated that translation for TIMP-3 protein was enhanced by CaPPS treatment. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry indicated that TIMP-3 was expressed mainly in the hyperplastic lining cells of rheumatoid synovium, and that the production of this protein by these immunoreactive lining cells was significantly increased by treatment with CaPPS.

CONCLUSION

The present study is the first to demonstrate that the new antiarthritic drug, CaPPS, selectively enhanced TIMP-3 production at the posttranscription level in cultured rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts and in the lining cells of rheumatoid synovium. By this mechanism, CaPPS may be able to modulate joint tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.

Shedding of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase in a human breast carcinoma cell line

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) with a transmembrane domain is a new member of the MMP gene family and is expressed on the cell surfaces of many carcinoma cells to activate the zymogen of MMP-2 (gelatinase A). We have previously reported that MT1-MMP is released into culture media in a complex form with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) from a human breast carcinoma cell line, MDA-MB-231, treated with concanavalin A (Con A). In the present study, we further studied the release mechanism of MT1-MMP. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the amounts of MT1-MMP in culture media increase with the time of exposure and the concentration of Con A, and those in cell lysates conversely decrease in a similar way. Time- and dose-dependent release of MT1-MMP into the media was confirmed by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay specific to MT1-MMP. The molecular weight of the immunoreactive MTI-MMP in the media was Mr 56,000, which was 4,000-Mr smaller than that in the cell lysates. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the mRNA expression level of MT1-MMP is about 3-fold enhanced after a 24 h-exposure to Con A and this is maintained up to 72-h exposure. The release of MT1-MMP from the Con A-treated cells was inhibited by metalloproteinase inhibitors such as EDTA and o-phenanthroline, but not by MMP inhibitors including TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and BB94 or other proteinase inhibitors of serine, cysteine and aspartic proteinases. During the Con A treatment of the cells, cell viability decreased time- and dose-dependently and dead cells reacted positively in the TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) method. Con A-treated MDA cells showed apoptotic morphology when stained with Hoechst dye and hematoxylin and eosin. DNA ladder formation was detected by electrophoresis of the DNA from Con A-treated MDA cells. These results suggest that MT1-MMP release from Con A-treated cells is due to shedding mediated by metalloproteinase(s) other than MMPs, and is associated with apoptosis.

Characterization of a truncated recombinant form of human membrane type 3 matrix metalloproteinase

Membrane type 3 matrix metalloproteinase (MT3-MMP), an activator for the zymogen of MMP-2 (proMMP-2, or progelatinase A), is known to be expressed in human placenta, brain, lung and rat vascular smooth muscle cells, but information about its biochemical properties is limited. In the present study, we expressed and purified a truncated form of MT3-MMP lacking the transmembrane and intracytoplasmic domain (DeltaMT3) and characterized the enzyme biochemically. DeltaMT3 digested type III collagen into characteristic 3/4- and 1/4-fragments by cleaving the Gly781-Ile782 and Gly784-Ile785 bonds of alpha1(III) chains. Although DeltaMT3 did not have such an activity against type I collagen, it attacked the Gly4-Ile5 bond of the triple helical portion of alpha2(I) chains, leading to removal of the crosslink containing N-terminal telopeptides. By quantitative analyses of the activities of DeltaMT3 and a similar deletion mutant of MT1-MMP (DeltaMT1), DeltaMT3 was approximately fivefold more efficient at cleaving type III collagen. DeltaMT3 also digested cartilage proteoglycan, gelatin, fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin-1, alpha1-proteinase inhibitor and alpha2-macroglobulin into almost identical fragments to those given by DeltaMT1, although carboxymethylated transferrin digestion by DeltaMT3 generated some extra fragments. The activity of DeltaMT3 was inhibited by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) and TIMP-3 in a 1 : 1 stoichiometry, but not by TIMP-1. ProMMP-2 was partially activated by DeltaMT3 to give the intermediate form. These results indicate that, like MT1-MMP, MT3-MMP exhibits proteolytic activities against a wide range of extracellular matrix molecules. However, differences in the proMMP-2 activation and tissue distribution suggest that MT3-MMP and MT1-MMP play different roles in the pathophysiological digestion of extracellular matrix.

TIMP-2 promotes activation of progelatinase A by membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase immobilized on agarose beads

Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)/MMP-14 is the activator of progelatinase A (proGelA)/proMMP-2 on the cell surface. However, it was a paradox that a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), which is an inhibitor of MT1-MMP, is required for proGelA activation by the cells expressing MT1-MMP. In this study, a truncated MT1-MMP having a FLAG-tag sequence at the C terminus (MT1-F) was immobilized onto agarose beads (MT1-F/B) and used to analyze the role of TIMP-2. The proteolytic activity of MT1-F/B against a synthetic peptide substrate was inhibited by TIMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, TIMP-2 promoted the processing of proGelA by MT1-F/B at low concentrations and inhibited it at higher concentrations. TIMP-2 promoted the binding of proGelA to the MT1-F on the beads by forming a trimolecular complex, which was followed by processing of proGelA. A stimulatory effect of TIMP-2 was observed under conditions in which unoccupied MT1-F was still available. Thus, the ternary complex is thought to act as a means to concentrate the substrate to the bead surface and to present it to the neighboring free MT1-F.

Activation of the precursor of human stromelysin 2 and its interactions with other matrix metalloproteinases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are synthesized as inactive zymogens (proMMP) and subsequently activated by many factors to degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the present study, we have examined the intermolecular activation mechanisms of proMMP by MMP-10 (stromelysin 2). ProMMP-10 was purified from the culture media of OSC-20 human oral squamous carcinoma cells stimulated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. The final products are partially activated (approximately 38% of the full activity) during the purification steps and contain proMMP-10 of Mr 56,000 with minor protein bands of Mr 47,000, 24,000 and 22,000. The zymogen is activated by 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate and processed to the active forms of Mr 47,000 and 24,000. The NH2-terminal sequence of the 47,000- and 24,000-Mr species is Phe82-Ser-Ser-Phe-Pro-Gly, which is identical to that of stromelysin 2. ProMMP-9 (progelatinase B) is activated by MMP-10 to its full activity and processed to the low-Mr species of Mr 81,000, 65,000, 57,000 and 55,000, the former two of which show proteolytic activity on a gelatin zymography. The NH2-terminal sequence analysis indicates that the 81,000-, 65,000- and 57,000-M, species have the identical sequence of Phe88-Gln-Thr-Phe-Glu-Gly, suggesting the cleavage of the Arg87-Phe88 peptide bond for activation and both NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal truncation in the 65,000- and 57,000-Mr forms. MMP-10 also activates proMMP-7 (promatrilysin) up to about 60% of the full activity and generates the same active species of Mr 19,000 as that obtained by activation with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. Incubation of proMMP-2 (progelatinase A) or proMMP-3 with MMP-10 does not result in activation of these proMMP. These results indicate that in addition to the previously reported activation of proMMP-1 (tissue procollagenase) and proMMP-8 (neutrophil procollagenase), MMP-10 can also activate proMMP-9 and proMMP-7, and suggest the possibility that MMP-10 may replace a role of MMP-3 in the ECM degradation in concert with other MMP under various pathological conditions.

Antimetastatic and antitumor effect of a recombinant human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 in murine melanoma models

Tumor metastasis into distinct organs and tissues, of which many patients with malignancies die, is regulated in multiple steps. Using a murine metastasis model, in which highly metastatic B16-BL6 melanoma cells were inoculated i.v. into syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, the administration of a recombinant human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (r-hTIMP-2) once a day on days -1 to 3 after the implantation significantly inhibited the formation of metastatic foci in the lungs. The antimetastatic effect of r-hTIMP-2 was detected irrespective of administration route [i.v., i.p., s.c., and i.m. routes] and in a dose-dependent manner. The i.m.-injection of r-hTIMP-2 during the early phase after tumor inoculation is suggested to be essential for antimetastasis. In another model using spontaneously metastasing B16-BL6 cells, multiple i.m.-injections of r-hTIMP-2 also resulted in a reduced but not statistically significant number of pulmonary metastases. In addition to these antimetastatic effects, a slight inhibitory effect on tumor cell growth was observed in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the antimetastasis by r-hTIMP-2 may be due to inhibition of the degradation of the extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and, in part, to the suppression of the tumor cell growth.

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase digests interstitial collagens and other extracellular matrix macromolecules

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is expressed on cancer cell membranes and activates the zymogen of MMP-2 (gelatinase A). We have recently isolated MT1-MMP complexed with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) and demonstrated that MT1-MMP exhibits gelatinolytic activity by gelatin zymography (Imai, K., Ohuchi, E., Aoki, T., Nomura, H., Fujii, Y., Sato, H., Seiki, M., and Okada, Y. (1996) Cancer Res. 56, 2707-2710). In the present study, we have further purified to homogeneity a deletion mutant of MT1-MMP lacking the transmembrane domain (DeltaMT1) and native MT1-MMP secreted from a human breast carcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231 cells) and examined their substrate specificities. Both proteinases are active, without any treatment for activation, and digest type I (guinea pig), II (bovine), and III (human) collagens into characteristic 3/4 and 1/4 fragments. The cleavage sites of type I collagen are the Gly775-Ile776 bond for alpha1(I) chains and the Gly775-Leu776 and Gly781-Ile782 bonds for alpha2(I) chains. DeltaMT1 hydrolyzes type I collagen 6.5- or 4-fold more preferentially than type II or III collagen, whereas MMP-1 (tissue collagenase) digests type III collagen more efficiently than the other two collagens. Quantitative analyses of the activity of DeltaMT1 and MMP-1 indicate that DeltaMT1 is 5-7.1-fold less efficient at cleaving type I collagen. On the other hand, gelatinolytic activity of DeltaMT1 is 8-fold higher than that of MMP-1. DeltaMT1 also digests cartilage proteoglycan, fibronectin, vitronectin and laminin-1 as well as alpha1-proteinase inhibitor and alpha2-macroglobulin. The activity of DeltaMT1 on type I collagen is synergistically increased with co-incubation with MMP-2. These results indicate that MT1-MMP is an extracellular matrix-degrading enzyme sharing the substrate specificity with interstitial collagenases, and suggest that MT1-MMP plays a dual role in pathophysiological digestion of extracellular matrix through direct cleavage of the substrates and activation of proMMP-2.

Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase 1 is a gelatinolytic enzyme and is secreted in a complex with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2

The processing mechanism and gelatinolytic activity of the membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MT-MMP-1) were examined by expressing in COS-1 cells a deletion mutant of MT-MMP-1 lacking the trans-membrane domain (delta MT1) and its site-directed mutant with a furin-resistant sequence in the propeptide domain (mutant delta MT1). delta MT1, but not mutant delta MT1, was processed to an active form and exhibited gelatinolytic activity as seen using gelatin zymography. delta MT1 isolated in a complex form with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) from the stable transfectants demonstrated the NH2-terminal sequence of Ala113-IIe-Gln-Leu, indicating cleavage at one amino acid down-stream from the furin recognition sequence. The delta MT1/TIMP-2 complex formed a ternary complex with proMMP-2 through the COOH termini of TIMP-2 and proMMP-2. A human breast carcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231 cells) also secreted MT-MMP-1 into culture media, which was purified in a complex form with TIMP-2 and showed gelatinolytic activity as seen using zymography. These results demonstrate for the first time that MT-MMP-1 is a gelatinolytic enzyme and secreted from cells in a complex with TIMP-2, which can form a ternary complex of MT-MMP-1/TIMP2/proMMP-2.

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay for human matrix metalloproteinase 7 (matrilysin) using monoclonal antibodies

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for human matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7, matrilysin, EC 3.4.24.23) was established with a pair of monoclonal antibodies prepared against the zymogen of MMP-7 (proMMP-7) purified from CaR-1 human rectal carcinoma cells and against an oligopeptide corresponding to the C-terminal domain of human proMMP-7. ProMMP-7 in samples was allowed to simultaneously react with both solid-phase and peroxidase-labeled antibodies. Sensitivity of the EIA system in the presence of EDTA was 0.05 microgram/l (1.5 pg/assay) and linearity was obtained between 0.156-10 micrograms/l (4.68-300 pg/assay). ProMMP-7 levels in human sera from healthy subjects were shown to be in the range of 10.7 +/- 18.8 micrograms/l. Gel filtration analyses indicated that proMMP-7 makes polymers after treatment with EDTA and suggested that proMMP-7 exists as polymers in normal human sera.

Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (matrilysin) from human rectal carcinoma cells. Activation of the precursor, interaction with other matrix metalloproteinases and enzymic properties

Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) has been purified as an inactive zymogen of M(r) 28,000 (proMMP-7) from the culture medium of CaR-1 human rectal carcinoma cells. The NH2-terminal sequence of proMMP-7 is Lys-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Glu, which is identical to that of matrilysin. The zymogen is activated by 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA), yielding an intermediate form of M(r) 21,000 and an active species of M(r) 19,000 which shows the new NH2-terminal sequence of Tyr78-Ser-Leu-Phe-Pro-Asn-Ser. Although trypsin fully activates the zymogen, the activation rate by plasmin or leukocyte elastase is confined to approximately 50%. ProMMP-7 can be activated by MMP-3 (stromelysin 1) to its full activity in a single-step mechanism and generates the same NH2 terminus obtained by APMA activation, whereas MMP-1 (tissue collagenase), MMP-2 (gelatinase A), and MMP-9 (gelatinase B) do not have such an effect. On the other hand, proMMP-1 is activated by MMP-7 to an activity similar to that obtained by APMA and the activation by MMP-7 is enhanced up to approximately 6.5 fold in the presence of APMA. This enhanced activity is donated by specific cleavage at the Gln80-Phe81 bond of proMMP-1. MMP-7 can also activate proMMP-9 up to approximately 50% of the full activity with a new NH2 terminus of Leu16-Arg-Thr-(Asn)-Leu. Incubation of proMMP-2 or proMMP-3 with MMP-7 results in no activation of these proMMPs. MMP-7 degrades type IV collagen, laminin-1, fibronectin, proteoglycan, type I gelatin, and insoluble elastin. These results suggest that in vivo MMP-7 may play a role in degradation of extracellular matrix macromolecules in concert with MMP-1, -3, and -9 under pathological conditions.

Cell growth-promoting activity of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2)

Human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) has a potent growth-promoting activity for wide range of human, bovine and mouse cells, having an optimal concentration (10 ng/ml, 0.46 nM) that is ten-times lower than that of TIMP-1 (Hayakawa et al. (1992) FEBS Lett. 298, 29). Neither TIMP-1 complexed with progelatinase B nor TIMP-2 complexed with progelatinase A, both of which have full inhibitory activity against active forms of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), showed any cell growth-promoting activity. On the contrary, both reductively alkylated TIMPs had no MMP inhibitory activity, but significantly stimulated cell proliferation. These facts clearly indicate that the cell-proliferation. These facts clearly indicate that the cell-proliferating activity of TIMPs is independent of MMP inhibitory activity. We also demonstrated that [3H]thymidine was significantly incorporated into Raji cells, a Burkitt lymphoma cell line, in the presence of either 4 ng/ml of TIMP-1 or 0.1 ng/ml of TIMP-2. Under steady-state conditions at 4 degrees C, high-(Kd = 0.15 nM) and low-(35 nM) affinity binding sites for TIMP-2 were identified on Raji cells with 20,000 and 1.4 × 10(5) sites/cell, respectively. Both high- and low-affinity binding of 125I-TIMP-2 to Raji cells were competitively inhibited by unlabeled TIMP-2 but not by unlabeled TIMP-1, suggesting the presence of receptors for TIMP-2 independent from those for TIMP-1. TIMP-2 seems to be another new TIMP cell-growth factor in serum, besides TIMP-1.

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay for human matrix metalloproteinase 2 (72-kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase) using monoclonal antibodies

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for human matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2, 72-kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase, EC 3.4.24.24) was established with a pair of monoclonal antibodies prepared against the precursor form of MMP-2 (proMMP-2) purified from the conditioned medium of human skin fibroblasts or against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal domain of proMMP-2. ProMMP-2 in samples was allowed to simultaneously react with both solid-phase and peroxidase-labeled antibodies. Sensitivity of this EIA system was 2.4 pg/assay (0.24 microgram/l) and linearity was obtained between 10 and 5,000 pg/assay (1.0-500 micrograms/l). The EIA system recognized both the free form of proMMP-2 and its complex form with TIMP-2 with the same degree of immunoreactivity. ProMMP-2 levels in human sera from patients in various disease states were analyzed. In sera from patients with hyperthyroidism (12), primary biliary cirrhosis (8) and hepatocellular carcinoma (11), 749 +/- 166, 716 +/- 135 and 686 +/- 236 micrograms/l of proMMP-2 were detected, respectively and these were significantly higher than that observed in 213 normal human sera (570 +/- 118 micrograms/l). In contrast, the levels in sera from 33 patients with osteoarthritis (449 +/- 72 micrograms/l), 45 with rheumatoid arthritis (408 +/- 139 micrograms/l), 13 with stomach cancer (427 +/- 103 micrograms/l) and 10 with pancreatic cancer (422 +/- 130 micrograms/l) were significantly lower than that found in normal sera. Immunoblot and gel filtration analyses showed that human sera contain several MMP-2 species in addition to proMMP-2 which exist in a complex form with TIMP-2.

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay for human matrix metalloproteinase 3 (stromelysin-1) using monoclonal antibodies

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3; stromelysin-1) was developed. The assay system used two simultaneous immunoreactions using a solid phase monoclonal antibody and a horseradish peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibody (Fab'). The sensitivity of the assay system was 20 micrograms/l and linearity was obtained between 31 and 500 micrograms/l. The EIA system was capable of measuring both precursor and active forms of MMP-3 as well as the forms of MMP-3 complexed with tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. MMP-3 levels as measured by this assay are significantly higher in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis as compared to those of healthy subjects and patients with osteoarthritis. Immunoblot analyses showed that in the sera and synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, MMP-3 is present in the 59- and 57-kDa precursor forms.

Pharmacological activities of synthetic human cholecystokinin-33 of which tyrosine was sulfated by arylsulfotransferase

The pharmacological activities of synthetic human CCK-33, in which a tyrosine molecule was sulfated by arylsulfotransferase, were investigated in the rat and the guinea-pig. The activities were compared with those of non-sulfated CCK-33 (CCK-33NS), CCK-8 and CCK-4. CCK-33 was about 100 fold more potent than non-sulfated CCK-33(CCK-33NS) but was about 20 fold less potent than CCK-8 in the contraction of the isolated gallbladder of the guinea-pig. In rat pancreatic secretion, intravenous CCK-33 and CCK-8 showed almost the same activity. The potency of each was about 1000 fold more than the individual potency of CCK-33NS, non-sulfated CCK-8 (CCK-8NS) and CCK4. There were no significant differences in gastric acid stimulatory activities among CCK-33, CCK-8, CCK-4, but the activities of CCK-33NS and CCK-8NS were less than those of CCK-33 and CCK-8, respectively. CCK-33 and CCK-8 produced a reduction in the intake of powder chow in doses of 10(-8) and 3 x 10(-8) mol/kg i.p., but CCK-33NS, CCK-8NS and CCK-4 did not. In conclusion, the activities of synthetic human CCK-33 are almost the same as those of CCK-8 on exocrine pancreatic secretion, gastric acid secretion and food intake, but less than CCK-8 on isolated gallbladder contraction.

Pharmacological activity of angiotensin-II modified by tyrosine sulfation

An angiotensin-II analogue with a sulfated tyrosine residue was prepared by arylsulfotransferase treatment of synthetic human angiotensin-II. Its biological activities were studied in isolated smooth muscles, and its effect on blood pressure was determined. The sulfated angiotensin-II (AII-S) was about 15-30 fold less potent than angiotensin-II (AII) for ileum contraction and gallbladder contraction. The hypertensive potency of AII-S was about 30-fold less than that of AII.