Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.24.17 (MMP-3)
 3,419 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Stimulation of growth of endothelial cells from preexisting blood vessels, i.e., angiogenesis, is one of the essential elements necessary to create a permissive environment in which a tumor can grow. During angiogenesis, the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of tissue enzymes contributes to normal (embriogenesis or wound repair) and pathologic tissue remodeling (chronic inflammation and tumor genesis). The proposed pathogenic roles of MMPs in cancer are tissue breakdown and remodeling during invasive tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) form a complex with MMPs, which in turn inhibits active MMPs. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are unique among mediators of angiogenesis with synergistic effect, and both can also be secreted by thyroid cancer cells. The goal of the study was to evaluate the plasma blood concentration of VEGF, bFGF, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in patients with cancer and in normal subjects. Twenty-two patients with thyroid cancers (papillary cancer, 11; partly papillary and partly follicular cancer, 3; anaplastic cancer, 5; medullary cancer, 3) and 16 healthy subjects (controls) were included in the study. VEGF, bFGF MMPs, and TIMPs were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In patients with thyroid cancer, normal VEGF concentrations (74.29 +/- 13.38 vs. 84.85 +/- 21.71 pg/mL; p > 0.05) and increased bFGF (29.52 +/- 4.99 vs. 6.05 +/- 1.43 pg/mL; p < 0.001), MMP-2 (605.95 +/- 81.83 vs. 148.75 +/- 43.53 ng/mL; p < 0.001), TIMP-2 (114.19 +/- 6.62 vs. 60.75 +/- 9.18 ng/mL; p < 0.001), as well as lower MMP-1 (0.70 +/- 0.42 vs. 3.87 +/- 0.53; p < 0.001) levels have been noted. Increased plasma levels of MMP-3 and MMP-9 were also found in patients with medullary carcinoma. In conclusion, predominance of MMP-2 over TIMP-2 and TIMP-1 over MMP-1 as well as increased concentration of bFGF in peripheral blood are common features in patients with thyroid cancer.
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PMID:Matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases and angiogenic cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with thyroid cancer. 1222 33

Pericellular proteolysis plays a pivotal function in cell invasion, a hallmark of tumor growth and metastasis. The minidegradome constituted of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), i.e. MMP-2 and MT1-MMP, associated with tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-2 (TIMP-2) and integrin (alpha(v)beta(3)) or CD(44), is mainly involved in such invasive program. It catalyzes matrix degradation but, alternatively, proteolytic exposure of matricryptic sites or matrikines liberation by those enzymes regulates either positively or negatively tumor cell migration. That applies to types I and IV collagens, elastin, laminin 5, as described here, but such phenomenon might be extended to other matrix macromolecules. The development of tumors from epithelium origin is related to aging. Senescent fibroblasts are characterized by increased expression of MMPs, (particularly collagenase-1 (MMP-1) and stromelysin-1 (MMP-3)) and deposited matrix by those aged cells was shown to favor cancer cell growth. Thus, compositional variation of matrix-surrounding tumor cells, with formation of matricryptic sites and matrikines, can be considered as one main epigenetic factor contributing to tumor progression. A matrix-directed pharmacological approach in cancer is now emerging.
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PMID:Proteolyzed matrix as a template for the regulation of tumor progression. 1288 58

The Ets2 transcription factor is regulated by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation of a single threonine residue. We generated by gene targeting a single codon mutation in Ets2 substituting Ala for the critical Thr-72 phosphorylation site (Ets2A72), to investigate the importance of MAP kinase activation of Ets2 in embryo and tumor development. Ets2(A72/A72) mice are viable and develop normally. However, combining the Ets2A72 allele with a deletion mutant of Ets2 results in lethality at E11.5 and shows that Ets2A72 is a hypomorphic allele. Mammary tumors caused by transgenic polyomavirus middle T antigen, activated Neu(Erbb2), or the combination of Neu and transgenic VEGF (Neu; VEGF-25) were all restricted in Ets2(A72/A72) females. The Ets2(A72/A72) restriction on Neu; VEGF-25 tumor growth was associated with increased p21Cip1 expression. The size of tumors transplanted into fat pads of mice with Ets2 targeted alleles was correlated directly with Ets2 activity and fewer stromal cells expressing matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). Decreased MMP-3 and MMP-9 mRNAs were confirmed in Ets2(A72/A72) macrophages. Activation of Ets2 at Thr-72 acts in the stroma, downstream of vascular endothelial growth factor production, in part through the regulation of macrophage proteases to support the progression of Neu- and polyomavirus middle-T-initiated mammary tumors.
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PMID:Ets2-dependent stromal regulation of mouse mammary tumors. 1461 5

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a major group of enzymes that regulate cell-matrix composition. MMP genes show a highly conserved modular structure. Ample evidence exists on the role of MMPs in normal and pathological processes, including embryogenesis, wound healing, inflammation, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases and cancer. The expression patterns of MMPs have interesting implications for the use of MMP inhibitors as therapeutic agents. Insights might be gained as to the preference for a general MMP inhibitor as opposed to an inhibitor designed to be specific for certain MMP family members as it relates to a defined disease state, and may give clues to potential side effects. The signalling pathways that lead to induction of expression of MMPs are still incompletely understood, but certain patterns are beginning to emerge. Regarding inhibition of MMP expression at the level of kinase pathways, it is possible that selective chemical inhibitors for distinct signalling pathways (e.g. MAPK, PKC) will hopefully, soon be available for initial clinical trials. Overexpression of selective dual specificity MAPK phosphatases have been shown to prevent MMP promoter activation which could also be used as a novel strategy to prevent activation of AP-1 and ETS transcription factors and MMP promoters in vivo. Interactions between members of different transcription factors provide fine-tuning of the transcriptional regulation of MMP promoter activity. MMPs play a crucial role in tumor invasion. Although the expression of MMPs in malignancies has been studied widely, the specific role of distinct MMPs in the progression of cancer may be more complex than has been assumed. For example, it has recently been shown that MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9 and MMP-12 can generate angiostatin from plasminogen, indicating that their expression in peritumoral area may in fact serve to limit angiogenesis and thereby inhibit tumor growth and invasion. The recent view about the role of stromal cells in the progression of cancer cell growth and metastasis is particularly interesting, and additional studies about the regulation of MMP gene expression and activity in malignancies are needed to understand the role and regulation of MMPs in tumor cell invasion.
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PMID:Regulation of matrix metalloproteinases: an overview. 1461 79

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are characterized by a marked propensity for local invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-erbB-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in tumor samples of 91 HNSCC patients, and to study a possible correlation to various clinico-pathologic parameters. The expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, VEGF, MMP-2, -3 and -9 was analyzed in the same paraffin embedded tissue by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical staining. High expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 or -9 was associated with advanced clinical stages, nodal metastases and tumor-stages. However, high expression of VEGF or MMP-3 was not associated with any clinico-pathologic parameters except significant correlation between VEGF and the tumor site. There were significant correlations between EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 and -9 in HNSCC patients. Conversely, no correlation was found between VEGF or MMP-3 and the other markers. However, significant correlation was found between MMP-3 or -9 and VEGF. The results indicate that the expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, VEGF or MMPs play an important role in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in HNSCC. The authors conclude that EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 and -9 could be good independent prognostic markers, but not VEGF and MMP-3.
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PMID:Expression of c-erbB receptors, MMPs and VEGF in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. 1525 82

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) has been shown to stimulate the growth of a variety of cells in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Although HB-EGF is widely expressed in tumors compared with normal tissue, its contribution to tumorigenicity is unknown. HB-EGF can be produced as a membrane-anchored form (pro-HB-EGF) and later processed to a soluble form (s-HB-EGF), although a significant amount of pro-HB-EGF remains uncleaved on the cell surface. To understand the roles of two forms of HB-EGF in promoting tumor growth, we have studied the effects of HB-EGF expression in the process of tumorigenesis using in vitro and in vivo systems. We demonstrate here that in EJ human bladder cancer cells containing a tetracycline-regulatable s-HB-EGF or pro-HB-EGF expression system, s-HB-EGF expression increased their transformed phenotypes, including growth rate, colony-forming ability, and activation of cyclin D1 promoter, as well as induction of vascular endothelial growth factor in vitro. Moreover, s-HB-EGF or wild-type HB-EGF induced the expression and activities of the metalloproteases, MMP-9 and MMP-3, leading to enhanced cell migration. In vivo studies also demonstrated that tumor cells expressing s-HB-EGF or wild-type HB-EGF significantly enhanced tumorigenic potential in athymic nude mice and exerted an angiogenic effect, increasing the density and size of tumor blood vessels. However, cells expressing solely pro-HB-EGF did not exhibit any significant tumorigenic potential. These findings establish s-HB-EGF as a potent inducer of tumor growth and angiogenesis and suggest that therapeutic intervention aimed at the inhibition of s-HB-EGF functions may be useful in cancer treatment.
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PMID:HB-EGF is a potent inducer of tumor growth and angiogenesis. 1528 34

Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3/stromelysin-1) is associated with a variety of tumor types, although its in vivo functional role remains unclear. In human and murine squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), MMP-3 is expressed in the stromal compartment at all of the stages of tumor progression and is expressed by the malignant epithelial cells in late-stage, highly invasive tumors. To elucidate whether MMP-3 plays a causal role during SCC, wild-type and MMP-3 null mice were subjected to chemical carcinogenesis procedures by topical application of either the complete carcinogen 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitroso-guanidine or two-stage initiation and promotion with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Contrasting with our expectations, tumors originating on MMP-3 null mice had enhanced initial tumor growth rates as compared with control animals, although there was no difference in tumor onset or incidence. This elevated rate in growth was coupled with an elevated proliferative index and a reduced vasculature density but with no significant effect on apoptosis. Tumors from MMP-3 null mice had a prevalence of undifferentiated spindle tumors as compared with controls, which was concomitant with a higher percentage of MMP-3 null mice evidencing surface lung metastases. Tumor progression in MMP-3 null mice was inversely associated with leukocyte infiltration, in which an overall reduction in tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils was evident. We propose that MMP-3 is expressed as a protective response and plays an important role in host defense during SCC tumorigenesis.
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PMID:A protective role for matrix metalloproteinase-3 in squamous cell carcinoma. 1546 88

Endostatin, a potent inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and tumor growth, is proteolytically cleaved from the C-terminal noncollagenous NC1 domain of type XVIII collagen. We investigated the endostatin formation from human collagen XVIII by several MMPs in vitro. The generation of endostatin fragments differing in molecular size (24-30 kDa) and in N-terminal sequences was identified in the cases of MMP-3, -7, -9, -13 and -20. The cleavage sites were located in the protease-sensitive hinge region between the trimerization and endostatin domains of NC1. MMP-1, -2, -8 and -12 did not show any significant activity against the C-terminus of collagen XVIII. The anti-proliferative effect of the 20-kDa endostatin, three longer endostatin-containing fragments generated in vitro by distinct MMPs and the entire NC1 domain, on bFGF-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells was established. The anti-migratory potential of some of these fragments was also studied. In addition, production of endostatin fragments between 24-30 kDa by human hepatoblastoma cells was shown to be due to MMP action on type XVIII collagen. Our results indicate that certain, especially cancer-related, MMP family members can generate biologically active endostatin-containing polypeptides from collagen XVIII and thus, by releasing endostatin fragments, may participate in the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis.
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PMID:Generation of biologically active endostatin fragments from human collagen XVIII by distinct matrix metalloproteases. 1595 Jun 18

Matriptase/MT-SP1, a type II membrane serine protease widely expressed in normal epithelial cells and human carcinoma cells, is thought to be involved in cancer progression. To clarify this possibility, we overexpressed exogenous matriptase in the human stomach cancer cell line AZ521. In vitro, the matriptase transfectant (Mat-AZ521) and the control transfectant (Mock-AZ521) showed a similar growth rate, although the saturation cell density was significantly higher with the Mat-AZ521. When implanted into nude mice subcutaneously or intraperitoneally, Mat-AZ521 cells grew faster and produced much larger solid tumors than Mock-AZ521 cells. The overexpression of matriptase in AZ521 cells shortened the survival time of tumor-bearing mice. Histological analysis showed that both the number and the size of blood vessels in tumor tissues were significantly higher in the Mat-AZ521 tumors than the Mock-AZ521 ones. Moreover, it was found that purified matriptase activated one of the important matrix metalloproteinases, stromelysin (MMP-3). These results suggest the possibility that the matriptase-dependent activation of MMP-3, as well as the direct activity of matriptase, promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis by enhancing extracellular matrix degradation in tumor cell microenvironments.
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PMID:Matriptase activates stromelysin (MMP-3) and promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis. 1699 19

The remodelling of extracellular matrix and angiogenesis represent two essential processes for tumor growth and metastatic dissemination. These phenomena imply many interactions between tumor cells and host cells via action of various proteases including metalloproteinases (MMPs) whose activity is controlled by TIMPs and serine proteases (tissue type Plasminogen Activator (tPA), urokinase type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) and plasmin) inhibited in particular by PAI-1 (Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor- 1). Evolution of tumors depends on the joint action of these enzymes, as well as precise balance between these proteases and their physiological inhibitors. Proteases regulate the fate and activity of many proteins by controlling appropriate intra- or extracellular localization; shedding from cell surfaces ; activation or inactivation of proteases and other enzymes, cytokines, hormones or growth factors and exposure of cryptic neoproteins. Hence, proteases initiate, modulate and terminate a wide range of important cellular functions by processing bioactive molecules an thereby control essential biological processes, such as DNA replication, cell-cycle progression, cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, morphogenesis and tissue remodelling, neuronal outgrowth, haemostasis, wound healing, immunity, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Work completed has for objective to elucidate the specific part played by serine proteases and MMPS produced by the host cells in the processes of tumor growth and angiogenesis. By using an original model of transplantation of malignant murine keratinocytes (PDVA cell line) into deficient mice (-/-) and wild type mice (+/+), we showed the essential proteolytic role of PAI-1 produced by host cells in the tumor progression and angiogenesis. This mechanism of PAI-1 action was confirmed by using the model in vitro aorta rings. By using deficient mice for one or two MMPs combined (MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-11, MMP-2&9, MMP3&9), we demonstrated that only the combined deficiency of MMP-2 and -9 showed an absence of tumor invasion and angiogenesis. These data suggest the existence of compensatory mechanisms of a MMP by another MMP or another proteolytic way. These phenomena of redundancy are to be known and detailed to elaborate in a near future, the development of specific inhibitors of MMPS.
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PMID:[Roles of serine proteases and matrix metalloproteinases in tumor invasion and angiogenesis]. 1728 5


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