Membrane-Tethered Metalloproteinase Expressed by Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Limits the Progression of Proliferative Atherosclerotic Lesions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) family plays diverse and critical roles in directing vascular wall remodeling in atherosclerosis. Unlike secreted-type MMPs, a member of the membrane-type MMP family, MT1-MMP (membrane-type 1 MMP; MMP14), mediates pericellular extracellular matrix degradation that is indispensable for maintaining physiological extracellular matrix homeostasis. However, given the premature mortality exhibited by MT1-MMP-null mice, the potential role of the proteinase in atherogenesis remains elusive. We sought to determine the effects of both MT1-MMP heterozygosity and tissue-specific gene targeting on atherogenesis in APOE (apolipoprotein E)-null mice.

Methods and results

MT1-MMP heterozygosity in the APOE-null background (Mmp14^+/-

SUBMITTER: Barnes RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5586255 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature