Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Restructuring of basement membranes is a hallmark of the pathology of renal cystic disorders. Here, we present findings consistent with the view that basement membrane degradation by matrix metallo-proteinases (MMPs) may contribute to abnormal basement membrane structure in polycystic kidney disease. Cells from cystic kidney tubules embedded in collagen gels appeared to migrate through the gel. This migration through collagen indicated that these cells could degrade the matrix. To examine this activity, we cultured cystic kidney tubules derived from the C57BL/6J cpk/cpk mouse, a hereditary model of polycystic kidney disease, and assayed conditioned medium for the presence of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The conditioned medium from the cystic tubules contained higher than normal levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, and MMP-3 as well as TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. A 101 kDa protease was present equally in cystic and control cultures and although inhibited by EDTA, it was not inhibited by TIMPs, nor activated by the mercurial compound APMA. These data suggest that cystic kidney tubules synthesize and secrete high levels of MMPs which may then participate in the restructuring of the tubular basement membrane.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/ki.1996.383

Type

Journal article

Journal

Kidney int

Publication Date

09/1996

Volume

50

Pages

835 - 844

Keywords

Animals, Basement Membrane, Blotting, Northern, Cell Movement, Cells, Cultured, Collagenases, Culture Media, Conditioned, Extracellular Matrix Proteins, Female, Gelatinases, Glycoproteins, Kidney Diseases, Cystic, Kidney Tubules, Male, Matrix Metalloproteinase 2, Matrix Metalloproteinase 3, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, Metalloendopeptidases, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Mutant Strains, Phenylmercuric Acetate, Protease Inhibitors, Proteins, RNA, Messenger, Sulfhydryl Reagents, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases