Synthesis and secretion of matrix‐degrading metalloproteases by human skeletal muscle satellite cells

The expression of matrix-degrading metalloproteases (MMPs) by human skeletal muscle satellite cells was investigated by zymography of cell culture media and by Northern blot analysis of mRNA prepared from satellite cells. Zymography in gelatin substrate gels revealed that satellite cells constitutively synthesize and secrete 72 kDa gelatinase (MMP-2). In addition, treatment of satellite cell cultures with phorbol ester resulted in an induction of 92 kDa gelatinase (MMP-9) activity. On casein substrate gels, little or no proteolytic activity was detectable in control or phorbol ester treated satellite cell cultures, suggesting that compared to fibroblasts, satellite cells secrete little or no interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) or stromelysin (MMP-3) activity. Northern blotting, however, revealed that there is detectable expression of mRNA transcripts encoding MMP-1 in satellite cell cultures, and that increased accumulation of MMP-1 mRNA transcripts occurs upon treatment of these cells with phorbol ester. In contrast, no constitutive, or induced expression of transcripts encoding MMP-3 was detectable in satellite cells. These findings show that satellite cells can synthesize and secrete selected members of the MMP family and suggest that skeletal muscle cells may participate directly in remodelling of the extracellular matrix during myogenesis and the regeneration of skeletal muscle.