Taro Hayakawa

Growth-promoting activity of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) for a wide range of cells A possible new growth factor in serum

Human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases‐1 (TIMP‐1), but not TIMP‐2, has potent growth‐promoting activity for a wide range of human and bovine cells, TIMP‐1 seems to be a new cell‐growth factor in serum and to stimulate the cells independently of its inhibitory activity.

Matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are expressed in joint tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to define the steady state levels of seven different MMPs and two tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) as well as the potential metalloproteinase activity in the synovial fluid (SF) to provide more insight into the role of MMPs in cartilage destruction in RA and OA. METHODS Levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in SF aspirated from knee joints of 97 patients with RA and 103 patients with OA were measured by the corresponding one step sandwich enzyme immunoassays. Proteolytic activity of MMPs in these SFs was examined in an assay using [3H]carboxymethylated transferrin substrate in the presence of inhibitors of serine and cysteine proteinases after activation withp-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA). Destruction of RA knee joints was radiographically evaluated. RESULTS Levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-8, and MMP-9 were significantly higher in RA SF than in OA SF. MMP-7 and MMP-13 were detectable in more than 45% of RA SFs and in less than 20% of OA SFs, respectively. Among the MMPs examined, MMP-3 levels were extremely high compared with those of other MMPs. Direct correlations were seen between the levels of MMP-1 and MMP-3 and between those of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in RA SF. Although the levels of MMP-1 and MMP-3 increased even in the early stage of RA, those of MMP-8 and MMP-9 were low in the early stage and increased with the progression of RA. Molar ratios of the total amounts of the MMPs to those of the TIMPs were 5.2-fold higher in patients with RA than in OA, which was significant. APMA-activated metalloproteinase activity in SF showed a similar result, and a direct correlation was seen between the molar ratios and the activity in RA SF. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that high levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 are present in RA SF and suggest that once these MMPs are fully activated, they have an imbalance against TIMPs, which may contribute to the cartilage destruction in RA.

Inactivation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases by neutrophil elastase and other serine proteinases

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) from cultured bovine dental pulp inhibits human rheumatoid synovial matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP‐3) with a stoichiometry of 1:1 on a molar basis. Among the serine proteinases examined, human neutrophil elastase, trypsin and α‐chymotrypsin destroyed the inhibitory activity of TIMP against MMP‐3 by degrading the inhibitor molecule into small fragments. In contrast, the inhibitory activity of TIMP was not significantly reduced by the actions of cathepsin G, pancreatic elastase and plasmin. These data indicate that neutrophils which infiltrate tissues in various inflammatory conditions may play an important role in regulating TIMP activity in vivo through the action of neutrophil elastase.

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.

Induction of angiogenesis in chick yolk-sac membrane by polyamines and its inhibition by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP and TIMP-2).

Treatment of yolk-sac membranes of 4-day-old chick embryos with spermine or spermidine resulted in angiogenesis in the membranes. The angiogenic activity of spermine was stronger than that of spermidine. Putrescine, polylysine and histamine did not induce angiogenesis in the membranes. Administration of putrescine, spermidine and spermine increased their respective levels in yolk-sac membranes, but no interconversion of these amines was observed. The increases in spermidine and spermine levels in yolk-sac membranes preceded induction of angiogenesis. The angiogenesis induced by spermine was inhibited by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, that is, TIMP and TIMP-2. These findings suggest that spermine and spermidine are angiogenesis factors in yolk-sac membranes of chick embryos and that matrix metalloproteinases represented by collagenase are involved in their action.

Collagenase inhibitor stimulates cleft formation during early morphogenesis of mouse salivary gland

A collagenase inhibitor obtained from the culture medium of bovine dental pulp markedly enhanced the cleft formation of mouse embryonic salivary gland epithelium when the inhibitor was included in the culture medium for 12-day and 13-day salivary glands. Determination of collagenase activity using [3H]collagen as substrate indicated that there was a latent collagenase activity in 12-day glands. In addition, a highly purified Clostridial collagenase freed from protease and hyaluronidase activities, strongly inhibited initiation of the cleft formation of the 12-day epithelium. Scanning electron microscopic observation showed that abundant collagen-like fibrils were seen on the epithelium in the collagenase-inhibitor-treated glands compared to those in the control. These findings suggest that during early morphogenesis tissue collagenase may regulate the cleft formation in the epithelium.

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay for human matrix metalloproteinase 8 (neutrophil collagenase) using monoclonal antibodies.

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for human matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8, neutrophil collagenase, EC 3.4.24.7) has been established with a pair of monoclonal antibodies prepared against the zymogen of MMP-8 purified from human neutrophils. MMP-8 in samples simultaneously reacted with both solid-phase and peroxidase-labeled antibodies. Sensitivity of this EIA system was 0.34 micrograms/l (5.7 pg/assay) and linearity was obtained between 0.5 and 500 micrograms/l (8.3-8300 pg/assay). The EIA system recognized both precursor and active forms of MMP-8 but not MMP-8 complexed with tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. There was no difference in the MMP-8 levels between the plasma samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and those from healthy subjects (median 6.2 micrograms/l, range 1.5-28 micrograms/l). However, the level in synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (median 345 micrograms/l, range 84-2860 micrograms/l) was shown to be higher than that from osteoarthritic patients. MMP-8 levels in human whole saliva from patients with periodontal diseases (median 282 micrograms/l, range 0-1420 micrograms/l) were also significantly higher than those from clinically healthy subjects (median 25 micrograms/l, range 0-100 micrograms/l). Immunoreactivity analyses showed that MMP-8 species in normal human plasma exists as a precursor but not as a complex form with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 or TIMP-2.

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay for tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 using monoclonal antibodies

A one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay system was developed with a pair of monoclonal antibodies against two individual oligopeptides prepared from the amino acid sequence of the human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2). The assay system consisting of two simultaneous immunoreactions used a solid phase monoclonal antibody and a horse-radish peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibody. The system detected a free form of TIMP-2 and that complexed with active forms of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) giving a different sensitivity for each MMP but not TIMP-2 complexed with the precursor of 72 kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase (MMP-2). The sensitivity of the system was 1.6 microgram/l (16 pg/assay) and linearity was obtained between 6.3 and 50 micrograms/l (63-500 pg/assay). TIMP-2 levels in the sera of 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (68 +/- 25 micrograms/l, mean +/- S.D.) and 13 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (76 +/- 46 micrograms/l) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of 18 normal subjects (5.6 +/- 7.4 micrograms/l). In contrast, the levels in the sera of 10 patients with gastric cancer (45 +/- 18 micrograms/l) and 7 patients with cancer of the uterus (36 +/- 13 micrograms/l) were significantly lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) than those of normal subjects. Immunoreactivity analyses suggested that the precursor of MMP-2 in normal sera exists in a complexed form with TIMP-2 by interacting with the C-terminal domain of TIMP-2.

Tyrosine phosphorylation is crucial for growth signaling by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2)

[3H]Thymidine (TdR) incorporation by human osteosarcoma cell line MG‐63 was significantly stimulated at as early as 3 h after the addition of either TIMP‐1 or TIMP‐2 alone. Maximum stimulation was attained at a concentration of either 20 ng/ml (0.71 nM) TIMP‐1 or 1.0 ng/ml (46 pM) TIMP‐2. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as genistein, erbstatin, and herbimycin A almost completely inhibited the [3H]TdR incorporation stimulated by either of the TIMPs. However, essentially no effect was observed with H‐89, H‐7, bisindolylmaleimide and K‐252a. These inhibition studies suggest a crucial role for tyrosine kinase in the signal transduction of TIMPs. Phosphotyrosine‐containing proteins were significantly elevated by the treatment with both TIMPs. We also found that either TIMP stimulated an increase in mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase activity, suggesting that MAP kinase plays a role in TIMP‐dependent growth signaling.

Induction and stimulation of 92-kDa gelatinase / type IV collagenase production in osteosarcoma and fibrosarcoma cell lines by tumor necrosis factor α

Production of a 92-kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) was investigated with human sarcoma cell lines. Among the cytokines and growth factors examined, only human recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) induced and stimulated the proteinase with concomitant increase in TIMP expression, but matrix metalloproteinase 2 (72-kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase) expression was unchanged. These data suggest that gene expression of the two metalloproteinases is regulated in a different fashion and TNF alpha may be important to allow cancer cells to be more invasive and metastatic.