Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (gelatinase A, MMP-2), membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MT1-MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) expression by elastin-derived peptides in human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell line.

Soluble kappa-elastin peptides were shown to stimulate the expression of MMP-2 (but not MMP-9) by human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells, both at the protein and mRNA levels; maximal effect being observed at a concentration of 25 microg/ml of kappa-elastin. The stimulatory effect could be reproduced using Val-Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly (VGVAPG) peptide, an elastin-derived hydrophobic hexapeptide which represented the elastin receptor binding sequence of tropoelastin. Furthermore, treatment of cells with lactose (30 mM), which dissociated 67-kDa elastin binding protein (EBP) from cell surfaces, completely abolished this effect, suggesting that the elastin receptor could mediate such a response. Using a specific monoclonal antibody, 67-kDa EBP was detected in HT-1080 membrane preparations by Western immunoblotting. Following treatment with 25 microg/ml kappa-elastin or 200 microg/ml VGVAPG, increased levels of the active 62-kDa form of MMP-2 were found in HT-1080 cell extracts. Stimulation of MT1-MMP mRNA expression by treatment with elastin-derived peptides (EDPs) was shown by competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A reverse zymography analysis revealed that EDPs also stimulated TIMP-2 (but not TIMP-1) production by HT-1080 cells. Competitive PCR confirmed increased TIMP-2 mRNA expression by such treatment. These results suggest that occupancy of the 67-kDa elastin receptor by elastin-derived peptides enhanced both expression and activation of proMMP-2 and consequently, could promote the invasive/metastatic ability of tumor cells expressing this receptor.