Metalloelastase is required for macrophage-mediated proteolysis and matrix invasion in mice.

JM Shipley, RL Wesselschmidt… - Proceedings of the …, 1996 - National Acad Sciences
JM Shipley, RL Wesselschmidt, DK Kobayashi, TJ Ley, SD Shapiro
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1996National Acad Sciences
Macrophages secrete a variety of proteinases that are thought to participate in remodeling of
the extracellular matrix associated with inflammatory processes. We have eliminated
expression of the macrophage metalloelastase (MME) gene by targeted disruption to assess
the role of this protein in macrophage-mediated proteolysis. We found that the macrophages
of MME-deficient (MME-/-) mice have a markedly diminished capacity to degrade
extracellular matrix components. In addition, MME-/-macrophages are essentially unable to …
Macrophages secrete a variety of proteinases that are thought to participate in remodeling of the extracellular matrix associated with inflammatory processes. We have eliminated expression of the macrophage metalloelastase (MME) gene by targeted disruption to assess the role of this protein in macrophage-mediated proteolysis. We found that the macrophages of MME-deficient (MME-/-) mice have a markedly diminished capacity to degrade extracellular matrix components. In addition, MME-/- macrophages are essentially unable to penetrate reconstituted basement membranes in vitro and in vivo. MME is therefore required for macrophage-mediated extracellular matrix proteolysis and tissue invasion.
National Acad Sciences