EFFECT OF LINOLEIC-ACID HYDROPEROXIDE ON PRODUCTION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES BY HUMAN AORTIC ENDOTHELIAL AND SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS

The effect of linoleic acid hydroperoxide on the production of proform s of matrix metalloproteinase-1, -2, and -3 (proMMP-1, -2, and -3) in cultured human arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells was invest igated. Upon cultivation of the endothelial cells in the absence of th e hydroperoxide, only proMMP-1 was detected, and its amount was increa sed by cultivation with the hydroperoxide. In the cultures of the inti mal smooth muscle cells in the absence of the hydroperoxide, a large a mount of proMMP-2 and small amounts of proMMP-1 and -3 were detected, and the hydroperoxide treatment increased remarkably the amounts of pr oMMP-1 and -3, but rather decreased the amount of proMMP-2. In the cul tures of the medial smooth muscle cells, the same tendency was observe d. However, the amounts of these proenzymes found in the intimal smoot h muscle cells exceeded those found in the medial smooth muscle cells, both in the absence and in the presence of the hydroperoxide. Possibl e involvement of these phenomena in atherogenesis was discussed.