Summary
The haemorrhagic transformation in ischemic stroke involves disruption of the integrity
of the microvascular beds, partially based on the action of matrix metalloproteinases
(MMPs). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of microvascular
endothelial cells from human brain (HBECs) to MMPs’ expression and regulation under
conditions relevant to brain ischemia. MMPs and their inhibitors were examined with
zymography, Western-blotting, ELISA and MMP-activity assay in cultured HBECs. Four-hour
hypoxia (pO2=60 mmHg) elevated the level of MMP-9 in the supernatant of the HBECs and this early
response required collagen-matrix. Active oxygen species sustained the increased MMP-9
activity for at least 24 h. In the post-hypoxic period 20 μmol/L H2O2 caused a 6-fold increase in the specific activity of MMP-9 over the nor-moxic cells
and a comparable effect was exerted by thrombin (50 nmol/L) and leukocyte elastase
(10 nmol/L). The role of NF-κB, a redox-state sensitive transcription factor, was
evaluated with immunofluorescence confocal microscopy and immunoblotting of nuclear
and cytoplasmic extracts. The oxidative stress-dependent MMP-9 induction was accompanied
by a significant increase in the NF-κB localized in the nuclei and these responses
were blunted with a proteasome inhibitor (MG132). Consequently, according to our in vitro data HBECs are a source of MMP-9, which is under the control of triggers relevant
to the ischemic/reperfused brain (reactive oxygen species, thrombus and inflammation
related proteases) and this regulation is partially based on NF-κB activation. The
reported regulation of endothelium-derived MMP-9 supports its potential involvement
in the post-hypoxic disturbances of the cerebral micro-circulation.
Keywords
Brain ischemia - microvascular endothelium - reactive oxygen - thrombin - neutrophil
leukocyte elastase