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1 From the Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, and the 2 Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque; and the 3 Division of Ophthalmology, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
| Abstract |
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METHODS. A well-characterized murine model of retinal NV was used to study the expression of specific MMPs (MMP-2, MMP-9, and MT1-MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs types 1, 2, and 3). NV of the retina was induced in mice by exposure to 75% O2 from postnatal day (P)7 to P12, followed by return to room air from P12 to P17. Expression of MMP mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, retinal tissue removed from control (without NV) and experimental animals (with NV) was analyzed for the expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3 mRNA and protein using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.
RESULTS. During the angiogenic period from P13 to P17, MMP-2 and -9, and MT1-MMP message expression increased in experimental retinas compared with control samples. The TIMP-2 message and protein levels increased steadily in the retina of control animals until P17. This was in contrast to that seen in the retinas of the experimental animals in which TIMP-2 message and protein remained low and significantly less than in control samples. There were no significant changes in TIMP-3 message levels in retinal tissues, and TIMP-1 message and protein were undetectable.
CONCLUSIONS. Correlation was made at the mRNA and protein levels of TIMP expression compared with that of MMPs in a murine model of retinal NV, which suggests a temporal role for MMP-2 and -9, MT1-MMP, and TIMP-2 in new vessel formation in response to hypoxic stimulation.
| Introduction |
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Extracellular proteinases and their inhibitors play an important role in the regulation of endothelial cell migration and extracellular matrix remodeling during angiogenesis.3 6 These proteinases include members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family such as gelatinases (MMP-2 and -9), collagenases (MMP-1, -8, -13, and -18), and stromelysins (MMP-3, -10, and -11).3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 The MMP activity is in part regulated by the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which bind the proteinases and inhibit their activity. The balance of proteinases and inhibitors has been shown to be a critical determinant of endothelial cell morphology and tube formation in vitro.5 Changes in the proteinaseinhibitor balance are capable of altering morphology of capillary tubes with excessive proteolysis, resulting in saclike noninvasive structures.5
Three members of the TIMP family have been identified thus far: TIMP-1, -2, and -3. Each TIMP is capable of inhibiting all metalloproteinases; however, preferential binding to specific MMPs has been reported.6 9 TIMP-1 primarily inhibits the activities of MMPs-1, -3, and -9, whereas TIMP-2 inhibits MMP-2.6 15 TIMP-2 has also been shown to bind and stabilize MMP-2 by preventing autolytic degradation and by participating in its activation.15 16 17 TIMP-3 is localized exclusively to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and is relatively insoluble, illustrating its potential to prevent matrix proteolysis and the release of sequestered growth factors stored in the ECM.6 TIMP-3 is present in the Bruchs membrane of normal human eyes,18 and the mRNAs of TIMP-3 have been localized in mouse and human retinal pigment epithelial cells.19 20 The TIMPs inhibit ECM proteolysis and may play an important role in inhibiting new vessel formation.15 21 22 23
We have previously shown that human diabetic epiretinal neovascular membranes contain high levels of extracellular proteinases including MMP-2 and -9 and urokinase.4 In addition, the levels of MMP-2 and -9 were elevated in retinal tissue in the mouse model of retinal NV.24 However, little is known about what other factors, including proteinase inhibitors, regulate the formation of new vessels in the retina. In the present study, we have examined the spatial expression of MMPs in the retina during the development of NV and the relationship and balance between MMPs and TIMPs in this model.
| Methods |
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For histologic analysis of NV, eyes were removed with care taken to leave the optic nerve intact. The eyes were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M PO4 buffer at 4°C. The whole eye was embedded in paraffin, and serial axial sections (6 µm) were cut parallel to the optic nerve. Sections were mounted on glass slides with mounting medium containing DAPI (diamidinophenylindole; Vectashield; Vector, Burlingame, CA) and examined by fluorescence microscopy. NV was quantitated as previously described.24 Two eyes for each independent hypoxic (n = 4) or normoxic (n = 4) treatment group were analyzed for neovascular nuclei on the vitreous side of the inner limiting membrane at P17 to confirm a positive or negative hypoxia-induced NV response. To confirm that the cells on the vitreal side were neovascular cells, immunocytochemistry was performed on some of the frozen sections of the retina by using an endothelial cell-specific antibody (1:100; rat anti-mouse CD 31; PharMingen, San Diego, CA) followed by biotinylated goat anti-rat serum, avidin-biotin complex, and diaminobenzidine.
RNA Isolation and ProteinaseInhibitor Gene Expression Analysis
RNA was isolated from the murine retinal tissues by using a
reagent (Trizol; Gibco, Grand Island, NY) followed by formaldehyde gel
analysis to confirm the integrity and quantity of RNA. Both retinas
from each of four animals at each age were pooled and analyzed for
reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Comparisons
were made between control and experimental animals at P13, P15, and
P17.
First-strand cDNA was prepared from 0.5 µg total RNA using an oligo dT primer and reverse transcriptase (Superscript; Gibco). For semiquantitative PCR, 1 µl of each first-strand reaction was then amplified with primers specific for MT1-MMP, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP- 1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, and 18S RNA. The primer sequences were MT1- MMP: 5'-AGTAAAGCAGTCGCTTGGGT-3', 5'-TGGGTAGCGATGAAGTCTTC-3'; MMP-2: 5'-TGGGTGGAAATTCAGAAGGTGC-3', 5'-ATCTACTTGCTGGACATCAGGGGG-3'; MMP-9: 5'-TGCGACCACATCGAACTTCG-3', 5'-CCAGAGAAGAAGAAAACCCTCTTGG-3'; TIMP-1: 5'-CTTGCATCTCTGGCATCTGG-3', 5'-AAGTAGACAGTGTTCAGGC-3'; TIMP-2: 5'-GAGATCAAGCAGATAAAGATG-3', 5'-GACCCAGTCCATCCAGAGGC-3'; TIMP-3: 5'-ATCAGTCAAAGGCAGCAAGC-3', 5'-AGCATTGAATAGAATTCTGTGTCC-3'; and 18S RNA: 5'-GAGCTCACCGGGTTGGTTTTG-3', 5'-TACCTGGTTGATCCTGCCAG-3'.
Standard PCR amplification was performed at 94°C for 1 minute, 60°C for 1 minute, and 72°C for 1 minute for 30 cycles, which has been determined to be within the linear range of product amplification. After completion of PCR, 20 µl of the reactions were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining to determine the presence or absence of specific transcripts, as well as the levels of transcript relative to the control transcript 18S RNA.
Quantitation of band density was performed using image analysis software (Imager 2200; Alpha Innotech, San Leandro, CA).
Analysis of TIMP Protein Level
Both retinas from each of four animals at each age were pooled
and analyzed. Comparison was made between control and experimental
animals at P13, P15, and P17. Western blot analysis was performed using
equal amounts of murine retinal tissue extract. The tissue extracts
were boiled in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) sample buffer, and 10 µg
total protein was fractionated on a 7.5% SDS-polyacrylamide gel and
transferred to a nitrocellulose filter. The filters were blocked
overnight at 4°C with Tris-buffered saline with 0.1% Tween-20 (TBST)
and 1% milk, rinsed with TBST, and incubated for 1 hour at 25°C with
1 µg/ml TIMP-1 or TIMP-2specific murine antibodies (Oncogene,
Manhasset, NY) in TBST. The filters were washed with TBST and incubated
for l hour with anti-mouse biotinconjugated antiserum (1:500, TBST).
After a 1-hour rinse in TBST, the filters were developed using
5-bromo-4-chloro-3-inodoyl phosphatenitroblue tetrazolium (BCIP-NBT)
for 2 to 5 minutes. The levels of TIMP protein compared with control
samples were then quantitated using image analysis software (Imager
2000; Alpha Innotech). Total protein levels were determined using the
BCA assay system (Pierce, Rockford, IL). Control samples for the
specificity of antibodies included blots incubated with no primary
antibody. TIMP-3specific antibodies are not available commercially,
and therefore Western blot analysis for TIMP-3 could not be performed.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was performed by using Students
t-test, and values were expressed as the mean ± SEM.
Tests results were considered statistically significant at
P
0.05.
| Results |
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MMP Expression
We have shown that the expression of MMP-2 and -9 is increased in
the retina at the time of maximal NV (P17).24
In the
present study, we examined the earlier stages of the NV process to
confirm that the profile of MMP expression remained consistent.
Semiquantitative RT-PCR was used to determine the message levels of
MT1-MMP, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in experimental animals relative to control
samples. The message for MT1-MMP increased significantly from P13 to
P15, whereas MMP-9 increased from P13 onward (Fig. 1)
. The mRNA for MT1-MMP was significantly higher in the experimental
group compared with the control group (P < 0.05 on
P13, P < 0.005 on P15, and P < 0.0025
on P17). The message for MMP-2, although significantly higher than the
control values (P = 0.005; on P13, P15, and P17),
remained relatively constant from P13 to P17. The mRNA for MMP-9 in the
retinas of the experimental animals was significantly higher than that
in the control animals (P = 0.0025 on P13, P15, and
P17).
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| Discussion |
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Increases in MMP expression and activation along with changes in the levels of the TIMP favoring a net positive proteolytic balance may form the basis for the initiation and progression of the angiogenic events in this model. MT1-MMP, MMP-2, and MMP-9 mRNA levels were significantly increased in the retinas of the experimental animals compared with control retinas. Previous studies in our laboratory have correlated this period of NV in response to a hypoxic stimulus with increased expression and activation of specific MMP proteinsnamely, MMP-2 and -9.24 However, within the experimental animals some differences were seen in the MMP response. MT1-MMP, the primary activator of MMP-2,26 and MMP-9 mRNA levels increased steadily from P13 to P17. MMP-2 expression at this time increased above that in control retinas but remained relatively constant. This may suggest that activation of MMP-2 by MT1-MMP, along with increased transcription, is critical for the role of this enzyme in response to hypoxic stimulation and may be accounted for by the increased levels of MT1-MMP at P15.
Previous evaluation of MMP message expression at P12, immediately after the return of mice to room air, revealed no difference in MMP expression between control and experimental mice. By P17 with the onset of relative hypoxia, MMP-2 and -9 activities were found to increase significantly in experimental retinas compared with control retinas.24 This suggests a response by the retinal cells to the subsequent hypoxic stimulus resulting in the observed changes in MMP and TIMP expression. Hypoxia begins in this model shortly after the return to room air followed by the production of specific angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).27
MMPs are known to degrade a broad spectrum of ECM components. These
proteinases are secreted as latent proenzymes that are cleaved
proteolytically to yield the mature active enzymes. MMP-2 and -9 are
important during the formation of new vessels, because their substrate
specificity includes type IV collagen, a major component of basement
membranes.7
Type IV collagen must be degraded to
facilitate the migration of vascular endothelial cells. Once the
basement membrane is traversed, MMPs may be important in remodeling the
ECM and regulating cellECM contacts, facilitating cell migration and
the formation of new vessels. An important feature in the function of
MMP-2 is its ability to interact with a cell surface receptor, the
vß3 integrin, resulting in localized areas of high proteolytic
activity.28
In the present study, both the mRNA and protein levels of TIMP-2 in the retina were decreased in the experimental group responding to hypoxic stimuli when compared with control samples during the angiogenic phase (P15P17). The decrease in TIMP-2 paralleled an increase in MMP expression during the angiogenic phase. The TIMP-2 levels initially increased in control animals from P13 to P15, perhaps because of a specific developmental program, whereas the experimental levels did not significantly change.
TIMP-1 and -2 are secreted by many cell types, and their expression is regulated oppositely and independently by phorbol esters, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).6 10 12 29 TIMP-MMP complexes are reversible and usually occur in a 1:1 equimolar concentration.6 15 TIMP-2 may bind MMP-2 in a 2:1 ratio, abolishing the complex activity; is also found in complexes with active MMP-2; and is believed to stabilize the enzyme by preventing autocatalytic degradation.16 17 Studies have also shown a role for TIMP-2 in MMP-2 activation by linking the proteinase to its activator membrane type MMP (MT1-MMP).16 17 TIMP-2 has an affinity with MMP-9 but to a lesser extent than with MMP-2.
It has been speculated that TIMP-3 dysfunction may result in neovascular growth into the Bruchs membrane because of the potential antiangiogenic activity of the functional protein.30 Point mutations in TIMP-3 gene have been implicated in patients with Sorsbys fundus dystrophy, an autosomal dominant macular disease with earlier onset of symptoms similar to those of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).30 31 The TIMP-3 content in Bruchs membrane of the macula shows a significant increase in eyes with ARMD compared with age-matched normal eyes.32 In our study, the TIMP-3 mRNA levels were comparable between normoxic and hypoxic retinas from P13 through P17 which suggests that although this inhibitor may play a role in ECM turnover, its expression is not significantly influenced by the hypoxic stimulus.
The upregulation of MMP expression and activation as well as a decrease in TIMP-2 levels may represent a final common pathway in the process of hypoxia-mediated retinal NV. Therefore, a more complete understanding of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of this proteinaseinhibitor balance will prove invaluable for the development and evaluation of pharmacologic therapies for retinal angiogenesis. In addition, the determination of hypoxia as either a direct or indirect factor influencing vascular endothelial cell proteinase and inhibitor expression, as opposed to the indirect effects of hypoxia mediated by angiogenic factors (i.e., VEGF) may also be useful in identifying future targets for therapeutic intervention.
| Acknowledgements |
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| Footnotes |
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Submitted for publication May 11, 2000; revised August 16, 2000; accepted September 20, 2000.
Commercial relationships policy: N.
Corresponding author: Arup Das, Division of Ophthalmology, Surgery Department, 2ACC University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 2211 Lomas Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131. adas{at}unm.edu
| References |
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