Key result
MMP-13 deletion in apoE(-/-) mice abrogated collagenolytic activity and increased fibrillar collagen in lesions, showing MMP-13 predominates over MMP-8 in collagen degradation.
Why the study?
Does genetic deletion of MMP-13 or MMP-8 alter collagen degradation and plaque characteristics in apoE(-/-) mice?
Does genetic deletion of MMP-13 or MMP-8 alter collagen degradation and plaque characteristics in apoE(-/-) mice?
In mouse models of atherosclerosis, MMP-13 is the predominant interstitial collagenase responsible for collagen degradation in atheromata, suggesting it as a potential target for modulating plaque structure.
May identify MMP-13 as a plaque collagen target in atherosclerosis models; leaves open human therapeutic translation.
OBJECTIVE: Substantial evidence implicates interstitial collagenases of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family in plaque rupture and fatal thrombosis. Understanding the compensatory mechanisms that may influence the expression of these enzymes and their functions, therefore, has important clinical implications. This study assessed in mice the relative effect of the 2 principal mouse collagenases on collagen content and other plaque characteristics. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice, MMP-13(-/-) apoE(-/-), MMP-8(-/-) apoE(-/-) double knockout mice, and MMP-13(-/-) MMP-8(-/-) apoE(-/-) triple knockout mice consumed a high-cholesterol diet for 10 and 24 weeks. Both double knockout and triple knockout mice showed comparable atherosclerotic lesion formation compared with apoE(-/-) controls. Analysis of aortic root sections indicated that lesions of MMP-8/MMP-13-deficient and MMP-13-deficient mice accumulate more fibrillar collagen than apoE(-/-) controls and MMP-8(-/-) apoE(-/-) double knockout. We further tested the relative effect of MMPs on plaque collagenolysis using in situ zymography. MMP-13 deletion alone abrogated collagenolytic activity in lesions, indicating a predominant role for MMP-13 in this process. MMP-13 and MMP-13/MMP-8 deficiency did not alter macrophage content but associated with reduced accumulation of smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that among MMP interstitial collagenases in mice, MMP-13 prevails over MMP-8 in collagen degradation in atheromata. These findings provide a rationale for the identification and selective targeting a predominant collagenase for modulating key aspects of plaque structure considered critical in clinical complications, although they do not translate directly to human lesions, which also contain MMP-1.
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Quillard et al. (2014) studied Atherosclerosis. MMP-13 and/or MMP-8 deletion vs. apoE(-/-) controls was evaluated on Atherosclerotic lesion formation and collagen content. MMP-13 deletion in apoE(-/-) mice abrogated collagenolytic activity and increased fibrillar collagen in lesions, showing MMP-13 predominates over MMP-8 in collagen degradation.
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