Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-binding endopeptidases that degrade various components of the
extracellular matrix. They have been implicated in normal and pathologic processes including tissue remodeling,
wound healing, angiogenesis, and tumor invasion. MMPs have different substrate specificities and are encoded by
different genes.
General function
Enzyme, Peptidase/Protease
Comment
Cellular localization
Secreted
Comment
Ovarian function
Ovulation, Follicle rupture
Comment
Atsushi Kimura et al 2001 reported localization of Bradykinin B2 Receptor in the Follicles of Porcine Ovary and Increased Expression
of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 and -20 in Cultured Granulosa Cells by
Bradykinin Treatment.
The effect of bradykinin on the expression of some
matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes was examined using isolated granulosa cells. Bradykinin treatment induced
MMP-3 and MMP-20 gene expression to an extreme degree. The expression of MT1-MMP was also affected by
bradykinin treatment. These results suggest that MMPs play a role in follicle rupture during ovulation. The present study
provides new information regarding the mechanisms of bradykinin-induced ovulation in porcine ovaries.
Expression regulated by
LH, Growth Factors/ cytokines, bradykinin
Comment
Ovarian Membrane Type Matrix Metalloproteinases: Induction of MMP14 and MMP16 During the Periovulatory Period in the Rat, Macaque, and Human. Puttabyatappa M 2014 et al.
An intrafollicular increase in proteolytic activity drives ovulatory events. Surprisingly, the periovulatory expression profile of the membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs), unique proteases anchored to the cell surface, has not been extensively examined. Expression profiles of the MT-MMPs were investigated in ovarian tissue from well-characterized rat and macaque periovulatory models and naturally cycling women across the periovulatory period. Among the six known MT-MMPs, mRNA expression of Mmp14, Mmp16 and Mmp25 was increased after hCG in the rat. In human granulosa cells, mRNA expression of MMP14 and MMP16 increased following hCG treatment. In contrast, mRNA levels of MMP16 and MMP25 in human theca cells were unchanged prior to ovulation but declined by the post-ovulatory stage. In macaque granulosa cells, hCG increased mRNA for MMP16 but not MMP14. Immunoblotting showed that protein levels of MMP14 and MMP16 in the rat increased similar to their mRNA expression. In macaque granulosa cells, only the active-form of the MMP14 protein increased after hCG unlike its mRNA or the pro-protein. By immunohistochemistry both MMP14 and MMP16 localized to the different ovarian cell types in the rat and human. Treatment with hCG resulted in intense immunoreactivity of MMP14 and MMP16 proteins in the granulosa and theca cells. The present study shows that MMP14 and MMP16 are increased by hCG administration in the ovulating follicle demonstrating that these MMPs are conserved among rat, macaque and human. These findings suggest that MT-MMPs could have an important role to promote ovulation and remodeling of the ovulated follicle into the corpus luteum.
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