tretinoin and 4-aminophenylmercuriacetate

Remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) is one of the key events in many developmental processes. In the present study, a temporal profile of gelatinase activities in regenerating salamander limbs was examined zymographically. In addition, the effect of retinoic acid (RA) on these enzyme activities was examined to relate the pattern-duplicating effect of RA in limb regenerates with gelatinase activities. During regeneration, various types of gelatinase activities were detected, and these activities were at their maximum levels at the dedifferentiation stage. Upon treatment with chelating agents EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline, the enzyme activities were inhibited indicating that those enzymes are likely matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Considering the molecular sizes and the decrease of molecular sizes by treatment with p-aminophenylmercuric acetate, an artificial activator of proMMP, some of the gelatinases expressed during limb regeneration are presumed to be MMP-2 and MMP-9. In RA-treated regenerates, overall gelatinase activities increased, especially the MMP-2-like gelatinase activity which increased markedly. These results suggest that MMP-2-like and MMP-9-like gelatinases play a role in ECM remodeling during regeneration, and that gelatinases are involved in the excessive dedifferentiation after RA treatment.

Topics: Ambystoma mexicanum; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Chelating Agents; Edetic Acid; Enzyme Activation; Extremities; Gelatinases; Phenanthrolines; Phenylmercuric Acetate; Regeneration; Time Factors; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; Tretinoin; Urodela

The human osteosarcoma cell culture HOS does not produce matrix metalloproteinases (MPs). However, after transformation with the Ki-ras oncogene, the resulting culture (KHOS) produced readily detectable MPs. The molecular weight of the major MP was 66 kDa, while the molecular weights of two other minor bands were 71 kDa and 60 kDa. The activity of all three enzymes was inactivated by treatment with ethylene diaminetetra acetic acid, indicating that they are probably MPs. The substrate preference of the 66-kDa MP (in decreasing order) was gelatin and collagens V, I, III, and IV. Treatment of the MPs with p-aminophenylmercuric acetate led to the appearance of 62-kDa activated enzyme. The MP produced by KHOS cells did not react with the monoclonal anti-rat stromelysin antibody MC. Treatment of KHOS cells with retinoic acid and dexamethasone, which are known to suppress c-fos/c-jun and AP-1, suppressed the production of the MPs. Therefore, the activation of MPs by Ki-ras in KHOS cells may involve c-fos/c-jun and the AP-1-responsive pathway.

Topics: Genes, ras; Humans; Metalloendopeptidases; Osteosarcoma; Phenylmercuric Acetate; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured