Reduced peribronchial fibrosis in allergen-challenged MMP-9-deficient mice

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006 Aug;291(2):L265-71. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00305.2005.

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of extracellular proteases that are responsible for the degradation of the extracellular matrix during tissue remodeling. We have used a mouse model of allergen-induced airway remodeling to determine whether MMP-9 plays a role in airway remodeling. MMP-9-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice were repetitively challenged intranasally with ovalbumin (OVA) antigen to develop features of airway remodeling including peribronchial fibrosis and increased thickness of the peribronchial smooth muscle layer. OVA-challenged MMP-9-deficient mice had less peribronchial fibrosis and total lung collagen compared with OVA-challenged WT mice. There was no reduction in mucus expression, smooth muscle thickness, or airway responsiveness in OVA-challenged MMP-9-deficient compared with OVA-challenged WT mice. OVA-challenged MMP-9-deficient mice had reduced levels of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed, and secreted (RANTES), as well as reduced numbers of BAL and peribronchial eosinophils compared with OVA-challenged WT mice. There were no significant difference in levels of BAL eotaxin, thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), or macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in OVA-challenged WT compared with MMP-9-deficient mice. Overall, this study demonstrates that MMP-9 may play a role in mediating selected aspects of allergen-induced airway remodeling (i.e., modest reduction in levels of peribronchial fibrosis) but does not play a significant role in mucus expression, smooth muscle thickness, or airway responsiveness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Bronchi / cytology
  • Bronchi / metabolism
  • Bronchial Provocation Tests
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Chemokines / immunology
  • Fibrosis / metabolism*
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lung* / cytology
  • Lung* / metabolism
  • Lung* / pathology
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucus / metabolism
  • Ovalbumin / administration & dosage
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Chemokines
  • TGFB1 protein, human
  • Tgfb1 protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Ovalbumin
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9