Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.24.35 (matrix metalloproteinase 9)
 2,207 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with testicular spermatozoa and ejaculated spermatids has been applied successfully to treat infertility because of azoospermia due to obstruction or testicular failure. In most cases, free spermatozoa are recovered from testicular tissue after mechanical mincing of multiple biopsies. Testicular sperm retrieval, however, remains unsuccessful in a high proportion of male patients suffering from testicular failure. In the present study, four media for enzymatic collagen digestion of testicular tissue were compared on 15 testis biopsies obtained from azoospermic patients following an ICSI treatment and on five biopsies from orchiectomy patients. To dissociate the testicular tissue, collagenase type IA, collagenase type IV, collagenase type IA supplemented with elastase and collagenase type IV supplemented with elastase were used. The preparations with only collagenase type IV provided the best dissolution of the cells from their tissue, with a higher yield of free vital testicular spermatozoa and single round germ cells. Enzymatic digestion of testicular tissue has the advantage, especially in cases of testicular failure, that several biopsies can be concentrated into one pellet of single cells. In this way, the sperm retrieval in cases of testicular failure might be optimized to yield the maximal numbers of spermatids and/or spermatozoa.
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PMID:The use of enzymatic procedures to recover testicular germ cells. 930 93

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of host-derived enzymes involved in the turnover of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and the processing of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. We have previously reported that global inhibition of MMP in Chlamydia muridarum urogenital tract infection of susceptible strains of female mice impeded ascension of C. muridarum into the upper genital tract, blunted acute inflammatory responses and reduced the rate of formation of chronic disease. Because we have also observed that MMP-9 (also known as gelatinase B) is expressed in relatively large quantities in susceptible strains of mice in response to infection during acute phases of infection, we explored this further in a more selected fashion. We infected MMP-9 gene knockout mice and wild type controls intravaginally with C. muridarum. Both groups of mice had similar isolation rates from the lower urogenital tract but the absence of MMP-9 resulted in a slightly lower isolation rate in the upper genital tract, blunted acute inflammatory indices in the affected tissues and a reduced rate of formation of hydrosalpinx-a surrogate marker of infertility. These results imply that MMP-9 is involved in pathogenesis of chlamydial infection in this model possibly by amplifying inflammatory responses.
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PMID:A role for matrix metalloproteinase-9 in pathogenesis of urogenital Chlamydia muridarum infection in mice. 1802 94

Luteal-phase insufficiency is one of the major causes of female infertility, but the molecular mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here we found that disruption of Lgr4/Gpr48, the newly identified receptor for R-spondins, greatly reduced female fertility in mice. The expression of Lgr4 was induced specifically in granulosa-lutein cells during luteinization. In Lgr4-deficient female mice, the estrous cycle was prolonged and serum progesterone levels were dramatically downregulated. In Lgr4(-/-) corpora lutea, the expression of key enzymes for steroidogenesis as well as common luteal marker genes was significantly decreased. Additionally, the activity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-ERK signaling was attenuated in Lgr4(-/-) granulosa-lutein cells. We found that the maturation of Lgr4(-/-) cells was impaired in cultured primary granulosa cells, but the defect was partially rescued by reactivation of EGFR signaling by heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor treatment. We found that the expression of wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT)/catenin (cadherin associated protein), beta 1 (CTNNB1) downstream targets, including matrix metalloproteinase 9, which is a critical matrix metalloproteinase for activation of EGF-like factors, was significantly downregulated in Lgr4(-/-) ovaries. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibitor treatment attenuated human chorionic gonadotropin- but not heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor-induced ERK activation and luteinization in primary granulosa cells. Together, we report that Lgr4 modulates WNT-mediated EGFR-ERK signaling to facilitate corpus luteum maturation and ovarian steroidogenesis to maintain female reproduction.
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PMID:Lgr4 gene regulates corpus luteum maturation through modulation of the WNT-mediated EGFR-ERK signaling pathway. 2487 28

Objective To observe the effect and clinical efficacy of Qilin Pill (QP) combined met- formin on matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) , hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) , sex hormones, insulin resistance (IR) related indicators in polycystic ovaries induced infertility women. Methods Totally 58 polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) complicated infertility patients admitted to authors' hospital were serial numbered according to visit sequence. The odd num- bers were recruited as the control group, and the even numbers were recruited as the test group, 29 ca- ses in each group. Patients in the control group took Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets, while those in the test group additionally took QP. All patients received 3 months of treatment. After treatment serum con- tents of VEGF, MMP-9, HGF, sex hormones, IR related indicators, and clinical efficacy were detected in all patients. Results (1) There was no statistical difference in serum contents of MMP-9, VEGF, HGF, sex hormones [luteinizing hormone (LH) , testosterone (T) ] , or serum levels of fasting serum insulin (FINS) and insulin sensitive index (IS]) related indicators between the two groups before treatment (P> 0. 05) ; (2) Compared with before treatment in the same group, there was statistical difference in serum contents of MMP-9, VEGF, HGF, and levels of LH, T, FINS, ISI in the two groups after treatment (P < 0. 05) ; (3) Compared with the control group, patients' serum contents of MMP-9, VEGF, HGF,and levels of LH, T, FINS, ISI were lower in the test group after treatment (P <0. 05) ; (4) After treatment the ovulation rate (93.2%) and the pregnancy rate (48.3%) were higher in the test group than in the control group (P <0.05). Conclusion QP combined metformin could significantly reduce serum levels of LH. FINS and T, contents of VEGF, HGF, and MMP-9, improve IR, and elevate the ovulation rate and the pregnancy rate in PCOS induced infertility patients.
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PMID:[Effect of Qilin Pill Combined Metformin on Polycystic Ovaries Induced Infertility Patients]. 3064 39