Faculty Collaboration Database

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases subsequent to urogenital Chlamydia muridarum infection of mice. Infect Immun 2005 Oct;73(10):6962-73

Date

09/24/2005

Pubmed ID

16177376

Pubmed Central ID

PMC1230927

DOI

10.1128/IAI.73.10.6962-6973.2005

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-25444508208 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   54 Citations

Abstract

The central hypothesis of this study was that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) would be enhanced following murine chlamydial infection and that their expression would vary in mouse strains that differ in their susceptibility to chronic chlamydia-induced disease. To address this hypothesis, female C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mice were infected intravaginally with Chlamydia muridarum. Uterine and oviduct tissues were assessed for transcription of MMP genes and their tissue inhibitors. An increased activity of MMP genes relative to preinfection tissues was observed in the C3H/HeN mice when compared to C57BL/6 mice. Using gelatin zymography, we detected constitutive MMP-2 activity in both strains of mice but an increase in MMP-9. Casein zymography indicated the presence of two elastase-like activities consistent with MMP-12 and possibly MMP-7. Western blotting and antigen capture enzyme-linked immunoassay also confirmed an increase in MMP-9 but constitutive MMP-2 expression subsequent to the infection in both strains of mice. In C57BL/6 mice, MMP-9 was present in monomer and dimer form throughout the 56-day monitoring period. C3H/HeN mice produced dimeric MMP-9, but increases in the monomer form were also observed through day 14. Post-translational modification of MMP-9 between the two strains also differed. Immunohistochemistry revealed neutrophils as a prominent source for MMP-9 in both strains of mice. We conclude that differences in the relative expression and activity of MMPs, particularly MMP-9, occur in mice differing in their susceptibility to the development of chronic chlamydial disease. These differences may account for disparate outcomes with regard to chronic sequelae of the disease.

Author List

Ramsey KH, Sigar IM, Schripsema JH, Shaba N, Cohoon KP

Author

Kevin Cohoon DO Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Chlamydia Infections
Chlamydia muridarum
Dimerization
Fallopian Tubes
Female
Female Urogenital Diseases
Gene Expression
Gene Expression Profiling
Matrix Metalloproteinases
Mice
Mice, Inbred Strains
Neutrophils
Protein Processing, Post-Translational
Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases
Uterus