Original Contributions |
From the Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Correspondence to Professor A.C. Newby, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK. E-mail A.Newby{at}Bris.ac.uk
| Abstract |
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Key Words: vascular smooth muscle cells coronary artery bypass grafting arteriosclerosis metalloproteinases proliferation
| Introduction |
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In addition to transcriptional regulation and activation of pro-forms, MMP activity is strictly controlled by binding to endogenous tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). The possibility exists, therefore, that MMP and TIMP levels are both regulated during neointima formation and influence the balance of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and degradation. However, relatively little has been published about TIMP expression in pathological vascular conditions. Importantly, no previous study has systematically compared TIMP and MMP activities during neointima formation. The TIMPs that have been characterized in vascular tissue (TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3) are equipotent in inhibiting active MMPs but differ in their ability to bind the proenzymes at a distinct C-terminal site.19 TIMP-1 (28 kDa) binds to and inhibits activation of proMMP-9, whereas TIMP-2 (21 kDa) either promotes20 or inhibits21 activation of MMP-2, depending on its concentration. Transcriptional regulation is one mechanism controlling levels of TIMPs in the ECM. TIMP-1 is secreted as a soluble protein; its activity is strongly inducible by inflammatory cytokines in some cell types, including fibroblasts, although it is constitutively expressed by cultured human and rabbit SMCs.8 9 Immunohistological studies in human atherosclerotic plaques have produced conflicting results. Nikkari et al22 found increased expression in plaques, whereas Galis et al23 found similar levels in atherosclerotic and normal tissue. Studies conducted after balloon injury have also produced conflicting results. In rabbit aortas, relative increases in TIMP-1 messenger RNA and protein levels in the neointima were demonstrated,24 whereas in rat carotid arteries, an increase in TIMP-2 but not TIMP-1 was demonstrated.25 In none of those studies22 23 24 25 were TIMP-1 levels quantified absolutely or compared with MMP levels. The importance of TIMP-1 expression in neointima formation is therefore unclear. The significance of TIMP-2, which is also soluble and expressed constitutively in isolated SMCs,8 9 is similarly unclear. Galis et al23 found equivalent levels of immunoreactive TIMP-2 in atherosclerotic and normal tissues. However, Hasenstab et al25 showed a relative increase in functional TIMP-2 levels 3 to 7 days after balloon injury to rat carotid arteries. TIMP-3 (22 kDa) is not secreted freely but remains tightly bound to the ECM26 ; its activity in rabbit SMCs is induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-ß.9 Its role in neointima formation has not been investigated.
This study was designed to define quantitatively the expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3 during neointima formation in an organ culture of human saphenous vein and to compare it with expression of basement membranedegrading MMP-2 and MMP-9. This model was chosen because of the well-characterized kinetics of neointima formation27 and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9,16 the availability of antibodies to each of the 3 human TIMPs, and the relevance of the model to coronary artery bypass grafting.
| Methods |
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Vein Collection and Culture
Human saphenous vein segments were obtained from 23 patients
(mean age±SD, 54±4 years) undergoing coronary bypass surgery.
Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant authority. Veins were
cultured by a modification of the method of Pederson and
Bowyer31 as described
previously.27 32 In brief, immediately after
careful dissection from the patient's leg, the segments were placed in
warm (30°C to 37°C) RPMI 1640 medium containing 20 mmol/L
HEPES buffer, 0.225 mg/L papaverine hydrochloride, 5 mg/mL amphotericin
B, and 20 IU/mL sodium heparin for transport to the tissue culture
laboratory. Within 10 to 30 minutes, the vein segments were placed in
wash medium (20 mmol/L HEPES-buffered RPMI 1640 containing 2
mmol/L L-glutamine, 8 mg/mL gentamicin, 100 IU/mL
penicillin, and 100 mg/mL streptomycin), and excess fat and adventitia
were removed. The vein was then cut longitudinally and pinned with the
endothelial surface up in segments of 5 to 10 mm
in length. Veins were cultured at 37°C in bicarbonate-buffered RPMI
1640 supplemented with 30% FBS unless otherwise stated under an
atmosphere of 95% air and 5% CO2.
RT-PCR
For initial qualitative assessment of TIMP mRNA expression,
RT-PCR was performed on paired vein segments before and after 14 days
of culture. Vein segments were ground under LN2,
and total RNA was isolated by centrifugation through a
CsCl gradient after the tissue and cells were lysed with 4 mol/L
guanidinium isothiocyanate.33 One microgram of
RNA was reverse-transcribed in a reaction mixture containing 1x
reverse transcriptase buffer (50 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 8.3, 75
mmol/L KCl, 3 mmol/L MgCl2, 10 mmol/L
DTT, 2 U/µL RNasin, 1 mmol/L dNTPs, 12.5 ng/mL random
hexamer primers, and 200 units of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse
transcriptase. Samples were incubated for 60 minutes at 42°C and at
95°C for 4 minutes. Finally, 80 µL of water treated with diethyl
pyrocarbonate was added to create the cDNA pool. Ten microliters of the
cDNA pool was amplified by PCR using primers specific to TIMP-1,
TIMP-2, TIMP-3, and GAPDH as follows: TIMP-1: sense,
ACCCACAGACGGCCTTCTGCAATTC; antisense,
GGCTATCTGGGACCGCAGGGACTGC34 ; TIMP-2: sense,
TGCAATGCAGATGTAGTGATCAGGG; antisense,
TGCTTATGGGTCCTCGATGTCGAGA35 ; TIMP-3: sense,
CTACACCATCAAGCAGATGAAGATG; antisense,
TGTGGCATTGATGATGCTTTTATCC36 ; and GAPDH:
sense, ACCCCTTCATTGACCT- CAACTACA; antisense,
ATGACCACACAGTCCATGCCATCACT.37 Each reaction was
subjected to 40 cycles (denaturing at 95°C for 1 minute, annealing at
60°C for 1 minute, and extension at 72°C for 1 minute). The
identity of PCR products was assessed by size fractionation of
ethidium bromidestained agarose gels and by sequence-specific
hybridization to 32P-
labeled internal
oligonucleotide probes after Southern blotting of gels
(GAPDH internal probe, GTCTTCACCACCATGGAGAA; TIMP-1 probe,
TCTTGCACATCACTACCTGC; TIMP-2 probe, CTCATTGCAGGAAAGGCCGA; and TIMP-3
probe, CTGTGCAACTTCGTGGAGAG).
Zymography and Reverse Zymography
MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion was quantified by zymography as
described previously13 16 using authentic human
proteins (0.4 ng) as standards. For analysis of functional TIMP
secretion, paired segments of the same veins were cultured for either 0
to 2 days in serum-free medium or 12 days in serum containing culture
medium followed by 2 days in serum-free medium after extensive washing.
Vein segments were then weighed. The conditioned media were removed,
concentrated 40-fold, and stored at -20°C before analysis.
Reverse zymography was performed essentially as described by Ward et
al.38 Eight microliters of each sample (each pair
of samples was adjusted for equal wet weight by diluting the more
concentrated sample with distilled water) was electrophoresed at 4°C
through an 11% (wt/vol) polyacrylamide gel containing 0.2%
(wt/vol) SDS supplemented with 1 mg/mL gelatin. After removal of SDS,
the gels were incubated for 1 hour at 37°C in conditioned medium from
PMA-activated rabbit skin fibroblasts (which contain a mixture
of activated MMPs), followed by 16 hours in incubation buffer
(50 mmol/L Tris, pH 8.0, 50 mmol/L NaCl, 10 mmol/L
CaCl2, and 0.05% of Brij 35). Inhibition
of MMP activity by TIMPs leads to darker bands against the lighter
background after Coomassie blue staining. Recombinant human TIMPs (40
ng per lane) were used as standards.
Quantification of TIMP Production
TIMP-1 secretion was quantified using a sandwich-based ELISA
according to the manufacturer's instructions; the assay appears to be
highly specific for human TIMP-1 but cross-reacts with TIMP-1MMP
complexes. The assay produces a linear curve from 0 to 50 ng/mL of
human TIMP-1. Conditioned media samples were diluted to fall within
this linear range. Samples were assayed in duplicate. TIMP-2 and TIMP-3
were quantified by Western blot analysis. For TIMP-2, 20 µL
of 40x concentrated media (each pair adjusted for equal wet weight as
described above) was electrophoresed on an 11% (wt/vol)
polyacrylamide gel. Proteins were blotted to polyvinylidene
difluoride membranes using 25 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 8.3,
0.192 mol/L glycine, and 20% methanol. The membranes were incubated
with sheep anti-human TIMP-2 (50 µg/mL), followed by anti-sheep
peroxidase-conjugated antibody. Bands were detected by
chemiluminescence using the enhanced chemiluminescence Western
blotting detection reagents. The bands were scanned densitometrically
using a Bio-Rad GS 690 Image Analysis software system. Local
background subtraction was achieved for each band separately by using a
nearby reference area. To validate the method, samples of 200, 400, and
800 ng of recombinant TIMPs were subjected to analysis and
found to generate a linear response. Unknowns were therefore related to
a standard of 400 ng of the appropriate recombinant TIMP run on the
same blot. TIMP concentrations were then expressed relative to the wet
weight of the sample.
For the analysis of tissue levels of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3, tissue extracts were generated from vein pairs before and after culture. In brief, veins previously frozen in LN2 were crushed with a mortar and pestle and then extracted in 500 µL of 20 mmol/L NaCl, 100 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10% SDS, and 1 mmol/L 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride. The weight of crushed tissue was determined as the difference, and the protein content of the extracts was measured using the bicinchoninic acid method (Sigma) with BSA as standard. The protein concentration in extracts from each pair of veins was then equalized by diluting the more-concentrated sample. Extracts were then subjected to electrophoresis and Western blotting as described above. The extracts were also analyzed for TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 using sheep polyclonal anti-human TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 antibodies (50 µg/mL) and anti-sheep peroxidase conjugates. The concentration of TIMP-3 was measured by using a mouse monoclonal anti-human TIMP-3 antibody (1 µg/mL) and anti-mouse peroxidase conjugate.
Immunocytochemical Testing
The location of protein expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3
was determined by immunocytochemical testing on gelatin-embedded,
5-µm frozen sections of veins pretreated with 5 µmol/L
monensin for the last 18 hours of culture to allow intracellular
accumulation of secretory proteins.28
Immunocytochemical testing was visualized using the
avidin-biotin-peroxidase method with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine as a
substrate. In brief, sections were fixed in 4%
paraformaldehyde (vol/vol) and endogenous
peroxidase was inhibited with 3%
(vol/vol)H2O2. Sections
were pretreated with 0.1% Triton X-100 (vol/vol) and incubated with
20% donkey serum (vol/vol) for TIMP-1 or TIMP-3 or with 100 mg/mL of
BSA for TIMP-2 for 30 minutes. Sections were subsequently incubated for
30 minutes with 50 µg/mL of the primary antibody (TIMP-1 or TIMP-2)
or 4 µg/mL (TIMP-3) or the same concentration of nonimmune
immunoglobulin G (IgG) as controls in PBS containing either 10%
(vol/vol) donkey serum or 10 mg/mL of FBS, respectively. Sections were
labeled with biotin-conjugated goat anti-sheep (1:800) or rabbit
anti-mouse (1:250) IgG whole molecule containing 10% donkey serum or
10 mg/mL of FBS as appropriate and further incubated in
avidin-peroxidase containing 5% (vol/vol) horse serum. For
immunocytochemical tests of TIMP-2, deparaffinized peroxide-treated
sections were placed in a pressure cooker containing 3 L of boiling
10 mmol/L sodium citrate buffer, pH 6.0, and kept at pressure for
3 minutes. Pressure was reduced quickly, and sections were washed with
tap water. Sections were blocked with 20% BSA in PBS for 30 minutes at
room temperature and then incubated with 5 µg/mL sheep anti-human
TIMP-2 antibody or nonimmune IgG in 1% BSA in PBS for 30 minutes.
Sections were incubated for 30 minutes with biotinylated donkey
anti-sheep IgG and then horseradish peroxidaselabeled Extravidin
(diluted to 1:800 and 1:200, respectively) in 1% BSA in PBS. In all
cases, visualization was performed with 0.05% (wt/vol)
3,3'-diaminobenzidine and 0.3% (vol/vol)
H2O2. Sections were
counterstained with hematoxylin.
In Situ Zymography
In situ zymography was performed essentially as described by
Galis et al.23 Unfixed 8-µm frozen sections
were cut and air-dried on glass slides at room temperature (23°C). In
the dark, LM-1 microautoradiography emulsion
(Amersham), which contains 2.3% (wt/vol) gelatin, was diluted with an
equal volume of 50 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 50 mmol/L NaCl,
10 mmol/L CaCl2, and 0.05% Brij 35. The
slides containing sections were then coated with a layer of emulsion,
placed horizontally in humidified chambers, and incubated for 18 hours
at 37°C. After incubation, the emulsion was allowed to air-dry at
room temperature. The slides were then developed with Kodak D-19
developer and fixed with Kodak Unifix for 8 minutes. Regions with
gelatinase activity appeared as light areas against the black
background of the developed emulsion. As controls for the specificity
of the gelatinase activity, inhibitors of MMPs (100
µmol/L Ro 31-9790 or 20 mmol/L EDTA) were incorporated into the
mixture of buffer and emulsion.
Statistical Analysis
When normally distributed, data were expressed as the mean±SEM
and were compared by using a 2-tailed paired Student's t
test. Otherwise, the Wilcoxon signed rank test for pairs was
used. Differences were considered significant at
P<0.05.
| Results |
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Quantification of TIMP Protein Secretion Into Conditioned
Media
To quantify TIMP secretion and the influence of culturing on
it, we measured concentrations of TIMP proteins in conditioned media.
These were obtained from paired vein segments from the same patients
after either 0 to 2 days in serum-free culture or after 12 days in 30%
serum followed by 2 days in serum-free culture. This protocol was
adopted to avoid interference of TIMPs derived from bovine serum
or other proteins in subsequent assays of human TIMPs. With the use of
reverse zymography, the inhibitory activities of MMP at 29
kDa (equivalent to the electrophoretic mobility of the TIMP-1 standard)
were visible after both 0 to 2 and 12 to 14 days in culture (Figure 2
). TIMP-1 levels were clearly elevated
in the conditioned media from days 12 to 14 compared with the paired
sample collected from days 0 to 2 in culture. Bands at 22 kDa
(equivalent to the electrophoretic mobility of the TIMP-2 standard)
were barely detectable or absent when measured by this technique. To
ensure that the elevation in functional TIMP-1 levels was not due to
residual contamination from FBS, the same procedure was performed on
samples of conditioned media from veins rendered nonviable by
pretreatment at 56°C for 20 minutes before culture. We previously
showed40 and confirmed here that this
treatment reduced cell viability as measured by ATP concentration from
280±20 to 39±17 nmol/g wet weight. No TIMP-1 was secreted at days 0
to 2 or 12 to 14 from veins pretreated with heat (data not shown).
|
TIMP-1 secretion was quantified by ELISA, which revealed an elevation from 3.2±1.5 (SE) to 32±6 ng/mg wet weight per day when days 0 to 2 and 12 to 14 in culture were compared (n=5, P<0.01). The TIMP-1 ELISA is specific for the human protein, confirming that the increased TIMP-1 expression was not due to carryover from FBS.
Notwithstanding the inadequate sensitivity of reverse zymography to
measure TIMP-2 production, TIMP-2 secretion was quantified by
Western blotting (Figure 3A
) of
concentrated conditioned medium and subsequent densitometric
analysis. This confirmed that TIMP-2 was less abundant in
conditioned medium than TIMP-1. A specific increase in TIMP-2
secretion was observed from 0.8±0.3 to 4.7±0.2 ng/mg wet weight per
day when days 0 to 2 and 12 to 14 in culture were compared (n=5,
P<0.001). TIMP-2 levels in media from veins rendered
nonviable by pretreatment at 56°C for 20 minutes before culture were
not detected by Western blotting (data not shown), demonstrating that
the increase was due to endogenously produced TIMP-2.
TIMP-3 was not detected by Western blot analysis in the
conditioned medium after either 0 to 2 or 12 to 14 days (data not
shown). This result was expected because TIMP-3 associates with the
ECM.
|
Quantification of TIMP Levels in Tissue Extracts
TIMP-2 is known to associate with cell membranes through binding
to membrane-type MMPs.20 Thus, 1 reason for the
lower levels of TIMP-2 secretion might be sequestration within the vein
tissue. We therefore conducted Western blot analysis on vein
tissue extracts. TIMP-2 was detected in total protein extracts (Figure 3B
), and densitometric quantification showed an increase from 33±7 to
150±70 ng/mg wet weight when days 0 to 2 and 12 to 14 were compared
(P<0.05, Wilcoxon test). This is equivalent to a
linear rate of accumulation within the tissue of (150-33)/12=10 ng/mg
wet weight per day between 2 and 14 days. TIMP-2 levels in
extracts of heat-pretreated veins cultured for 14 days were 6±4 ng/mg
wet weight (n=3), confirming that the increase was due to
endogenously produced TIMP-2. TIMP-3 was also detected in
total protein extracts from vein segments, but this was highly
variable from patient to patient (Figure 4
; 3 data sets not shown). In 5 pairs of
samples, TIMP-3 levels appeared to increase after culture; in 4 others,
it appeared to decline. The mean levels were 160±120 and 170±100
ng/mg wet weight (n=9) after 2 and 14 days in culture, respectively,
which was not significantly different when the data were compared by
using a paired Wilcoxon test. TIMP-3 levels in extracts of
cultured, heat-pretreated veins were 100±40 ng/mg wet weight (n=3).
This was expected because the endogenous TIMP-3 present
before culture remained associated with the ECM during culture.
No TIMP-1 was detected in tissue extracts (data not shown),
demonstrating that this TIMP was freely secreted into the conditioned
media.
|
Comparison of TIMP and MMP Levels in Cultured Veins
We previously documented a 6-fold increase in MMP-2
secretion and a 20-fold increase in MMP-9 secretion from human
saphenous veins during culture.16 However,
absolute values of gelatinase secretion were not recorded. To
achieve this, we used zymography standardized with authentic human
recombinant proteins. In the same veins used for estimation of TIMP
secretion, MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion between 12 and 14 days of culture
was 11±2 and 16±2 ng/mg wet weight per day (n=5), respectively.
Similarly to TIMP-1, most MMPs were found in the medium. After 14 days
of culture, the tissue concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were 1.8±0.9
and 0.12±0.06 ng/mg wet weight, respectively.
Location of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3
Immunocytochemical testing revealed distinct patterns of
expression of individual TIMPs during development of the
neointima in the organ culture model. Given the evidence
detailed above that TIMP-1 is readily secreted from the tissue, we used
pretreatment with monensin to trap the protein within the endosomal
compartment of cells.28 TIMP-1 was not detected
by immunoperoxidase staining in medial cells in vein samples cultured
for 0 to 2 days (Figure 5A
), whereas
TIMP-1 was located in many of the neointimal cells but few
medial SMCs after 14 days in culture (Figure 5C
). At high-power
magnification (Figure 6A
), punctate
staining for TIMP-1 could be seen within individual cells,
demonstrating endosomal trapping. Identification of the TIMP-expressing
cells as SMCs and surface ECs was confirmed by
immunocytochemical testing using
-SMC actin and QBend-10,
respectively (data not shown). Punctate intracellular staining for
TIMP-1 was not detected in the adventitia either before or after
culturing (Figure 5B
and 5D
) or in cells at the cut surfaces (not
shown).
|
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In sections from the same blocks, light, diffuse staining for
TIMP-2 was located extracellularly in the medial and adventitial layers
of veins culture for 0 to 2 days (Figure 7A
and 7B
). Much stronger cell-associated
staining was observed after 14 days (Figure 7C
and 7D
). The greatest
intensity of staining for TIMP-2 was in the neointima;
however, increased staining was also seen in medial and adventitial
cells (Figure 7C
and 7D
). Increased staining of the ECM was also
apparent.
|
TIMP-3 was detected extracellularly in the upper region of the
media, apparently sparing the endothelial layer in
samples at day 2 (Figure 8A
and 8B
).
There was also diffuse staining of the ECM in the media and adventitia
(Figure 8B
). After 14 days, TIMP-3 was just detectable in the ECM of
the neointima but remained prominent in the upper media
(Figure 8D
). The staining was strongest below the internal elastic
lamina at the border between the neointima and media.
Scattered staining of the medial and adventitial ECM remained. Overall,
staining intensity varied considerably in samples of veins from
different patients, consonant with the Western blotting data.
|
Location of Gelatinase Activity
In situ zymography was used to evaluate gelatinase activity in
veins cultured for 2 days and showed prominent activity at the luminal
surface of ECs (large arrows in Figure 9B
) and in the deep media. There was also
lower-level activity in the inner media and adventitia. In veins
cultured for 14 days, activity remained highest in the deep media
(Figure 9D
). However, activity in the inner media was greatly increased
(Figure 9D
) and appeared to extend beyond individual cells. Activity in
the neointima and adventitia was comparatively less and
closely associated with cell bodies (large arrows in Figure 9D
) rather
than the intervening ECM. These patterns of activity were greatly
suppressed by EDTA and the specific MMP inhibitor (Ro
31-9790; data not shown).
|
| Discussion |
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The data provided here are the first quantitative estimates of TIMP expression in human vascular tissue. Our observation of basal secretion of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 by normal veins is consistent with histological evidence from nonatherosclerotic arteries.23 The quantitative demonstration of upregulation of TIMP-1 is an important finding. TIMP-1 secretion was unequivocally localized to human neointimal SMCs by demonstrating its entrapment by monensin within endosomal vesicles. Increased expression of TIMP-1 by neointimal cells is consistent with results of the histological studies of Nikkari et al22 in carotid artery tissues. However, other histological studies of human atherosclerotic arteries failed to show upregulation of TIMP-1 or TIMP-2,23 perhaps because of the greater sensitivity of their antibodies in detecting basal levels. Our data showing upregulation of TIMP-1 in the neointima are also consistent with results of recent studies showing relative increases in the balloon-injured rabbit aorta.24
Previous experiments, including our own, of TIMP-1 secretion using isolated SMCs have demonstrated constitutive expression at the mRNA and protein levels.8 9 Isolated cultured cells probably reflect the properties of synthetic-phenotype SMCs, similar to those found in the rapidly developing neointima.41 A large number of genes are known to be upregulated in neointimal SMCs, and TIMP-1 appears to fall into this category, as shown in this study. It is possible that activation of the TIMP-1 gene occurs during phenotypic modulation of the contractile medial cells into synthetic-state neointimal cells, perhaps by occupation of activator protein (AP)-1 and polyomavirus enhancer-A binding protein-3 transcription elements.42 This hypothesis is worthy of future investigation. Recent evidence indicates that myofibroblasts derived from the adventitia may constitute a proportion of the cells of the neointima of vein grafts in pigs43 and in organ cultures of human saphenous vein.44 However, under the culture conditions we use, we have not observed migration of cells from the cut edges of tissue pieces.27 Moreover, when ECs and inner medial SMCs were selectively labeled before culture by infection with an adenovirus that drives expression of ß-galactosidase, many of the neointimal cells that developed after culture were found to express ß-galactosidase.45 This supports the conclusion that at least some cells arose by migration and division of the underlying SMCs. In the current experiments, only neointimal cells were observed to secrete amounts of TIMP-1 that were detectable by immunocytochemical testing. TIMP-1 secretion was not detected in either resident adventitial cells or in cells at the cut edges of cultures. Hence, our data do not support the involvement of adventitial fibroblasts. However, the general lack of definitive cell-specific markers does not allow us to rule out some contribution.
We showed quantitatively, also for the first time, that secretion of
TIMP-2 is upregulated during organ culture of human vascular
tissue, despite a constitutive pattern of secretion from isolated
SMCs.8 9 Our data are consistent with the
relative changes in TIMP-2 expression in the rat carotid artery that
occur after balloon injury.25 Regulation of
TIMP-2 expression is less well understood than that of TIMP-1. The
promoter of the human TIMP-2 gene also contains both AP-1 and
polyomavirus enhancer-A binding protein-3 sites, although the AP-1 site
may be inactive.46 Unlike TIMP-1, a significant
proportion of TIMP-2, equivalent to a linear rate of production
of 10 ng/mg per day, accumulated in the matrix, compared with secretion
of
5 ng/mg per day. Part of this may be bound to membrane-type MMPs,
which are present in human saphenous veins (A. Kranzhöfer and
A.C. Newby, unpublished data, 1998). Overall, the rate of
accumulation of TIMP-2 (10+5=15 ng/mg wet weight per day) was
approximately half that of TIMP-1 (32 ng/mg wet weight per day). The
finding of accumulation of TIMP-2 in the neointima is
consistent with data from studies of rat carotid
arteries.25
In rabbit aortic SMCs, TIMP-3 expression was stimulated by PDGF and/or transforming growth factor-ß. PDGF expression is detectable in human saphenous veins even before culture,47 which may explain the basal expression of TIMP-3. Consistent with this, TIMP-3 was prominent in the subendothelial matrix, and ECs are the most abundant source of PDGF in veins before culture.47
Our study is also the first to compare directly the levels of TIMPs and gelatinases during neointima formation. The clear conclusion is that rates of gelatinase and TIMP secretion are of the same order. Moreover, the large relative increases in gelatinase expression and activation previously reported16 are matched by similar increases in expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Hence, regulation of TIMP expression must have a major impact on net MMP activity, especially in the neointima. By immunoprecipitation, both the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 antibodies recognize the unbound TIMP and TIMP-MMP complexes.29 The same data cannot be obtained for the TIMP-3 antibody because TIMP-3 is insoluble. However, the epitope recognized by the antibody is the C-terminal tail of TIMP-3, which is not thought to be involved in binding to MMPs.48 It is likely that this antibody also recognizes both unbound and complexed TIMPs. Hence, in situ zymography is the only available method to investigate the balance between TIMPs and MMPs. This demonstrated that in the neointima, where immunochemically detected MMP and TIMP levels are high (George et al16 and these studies), gelatinase activity was nevertheless closely restricted to the pericellular environment. Experiments with synthetic MMP inhibitors and gene transfer of TIMPs support an essential role of active MMPs in permitting migration of SMCs.14 15 49 50 51 Two of these studies also found an inhibitory effect on early proliferative responses to serum or injury.4 15 If unopposed, however, the increased secretion of gelatinases would lead to uncontrolled neointimal expansion and prevent the establishment of a stable ECM between the neointimal cells. Mechanisms are therefore necessary to limit the activity of gelatinase and other MMPs that degrade interstitial matrix components, such as collagenase and stromelysin. The upregulation of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 that occurs in neointimal SMCs appears to satisfy this requirement for a self-protecting mechanism. In other pathological conditions in which MMPs are involved, such as wound healing, there is strong evidence of concomitant or consequent upregulation of TIMPs that modulates the increased MMP activity.52 Our results clearly indicate that the same principle applies to neointima formation in blood vessels.
In conclusion, our data demonstrate important changes in the expression and location of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3 during neointima formation in human saphenous veins. The abundance of TIMPs relative to gelatinases demonstrates that these changes will have an important impact on activity and hence influence turnover of the neointimal ECM. The net effects will likely be to restrain SMC migration and proliferation and to promote establishment of a stable ECM.
Received September 17, 1997; accepted June 22, 1998.
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