Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Pivot Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Target Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Query: EC:3.4.24.3 (
collagenase
)
18,340
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Atherosclerosis has been linked to
Chlamydia pneumoniae infection
. In atherosclerotic arteries chlamydiae infect macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells (SMC). It has been suggested that the proteolysis of the extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is involved in the destabilisation and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. In this study we investigated the expression of several MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMPs) in C. pneumoniae-infected SMC using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Chlamydial infection of SMC up-regulated the mRNA levels of
MMP-1
(interstitial collagenase) and MMP-3 (stromelysin) but did not affect the expression of MMP-2 and -9 (gelatinases). Additionally, the levels of TIMP-1 and -2 mRNA remained unchanged upon infection. Cells infected with C. pneumoniae secreted increased quantities of
MMP-1
and -3 proteins as demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The ability of C. pneumoniae to stimulate the production of
MMP-1
and -3 by SMC may be important for its pathogenic role in the progression of atherosclerotic disease.
...
PMID:Increased production of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 by smooth muscle cells upon infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae. 1312 50
