Transgenic overexpression of macrophage matrix metalloproteinase-9 exacerbates age-related cardiac hypertrophy, vessel rarefaction, inflammation, and fibrosis

In conclusion, overexpression of MMP-9 in macrophages resulted in exacerbated cardiac hypertrophy in the setting of vessel rarefaction, which resulted in enhanced inflammation and fibrosis to augment the cardiac-aging phenotype. Our results provide evidence that macrophage-derived MMP-9 may be a therapeutic target in elderly subjects. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study was the first to use mice with transgenic overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in macrophages to examine the effects of macrophage-derived MMP-9 on cardiac aging. We found that an elevation in macrophage-derived MMP-9 induced a greater age-dependent cardiac hypertrophy and vessel rarefaction phenotype, which enhanced cardiac inflammation and fibrosis.

http://ajpheart.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/3/H375?rss=1

Source: AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology - February 28, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Toba, H., Cannon, P. L., Yabluchanskiy, A., Iyer, R. P., DArmiento, J., Lindsey, M. L. Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research