The synthetic hydroxyproline-containing collagen analogue(Gly–Pro–Hyp)10 promotes enzymatic activity ofmatrixmetalloproteinase-2 in vitro

摘要

Diseases such as liver fibrosis and intestinal inflammation are characterized by accumulated components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Given that fibrillar collagen structures were shown to serve as storage site for inactive proforms of matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs), modulating this MMP–collagen interaction might offer a rational interventional (therapeutic) approach to enhance degradation of accumulated ECM. The synthetic triple helical collagen analogue (Gly–Pro–Hyp)10 – (GPO)10 – was shown to trigger release and enzymatic activation of collagen sequestered proMMP-2. In the presented study, we, for the first time, investigated how MMP–(GPO)10 interaction impacts cellular responses in vitro. We found that recombinant proMMP-2 induced proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which was enhanced after addition of (GPO)10 reaching comparable levels following incubation with fully activated MMP-2. In addition, (GPO)10 induced HSC migration similar to the platelet-derived growth factor subunit-B. Further, the MMP-2-dependent invasion of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells through an ECM membrane was enhanced after addition of (GPO)10. Since cellular proliferation and migration concomitantwith matrix degradation is stimulated, we conclude that theMMP–(GPO)10 interaction also functions in a physiologicalenvironment. Thus, a potential therapeutic effect of (GPO)10 shouldbe further tested in animal models for MMP-associated diseases such as colitisor fibrosis.