Premium
Presence of high levels of MT1‐MMP protein in fibroblastic cells of human invasive carcinomas
Author(s) -
Chenard MariePierre,
Lutz Yves,
MechineNeuville Agnés,
Stoll Isabelle,
Bellocq JeanPierre,
Rio MarieChristine,
Basset Paul
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19990719)82:2<208::aid-ijc10>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - matrix metalloproteinase , stromal cell , mmp2 , monoclonal antibody , epitope , cancer research , biology , pathology , immunohistochemistry , metalloproteinase , cancer , antibody , medicine , immunology , metastasis , biochemistry , genetics
Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) activity is associated with the aggressiveness of human cancers. Therefore, the mechanisms regulating its activation are of great interest for a better understanding of malignant invasive processes. MT1‐MMP, a membrane‐bound MMP, is involved in the conversion of the latent form of MMP2 to the active one. In the present study, we have raised 3 monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) directed against 3 different epitopes of human MT1‐MMP, which we used to investigate the expression and cellular localization of MT1‐MMP protein in human carcinomas. MT1‐MMP protein was present in all invasive carcinomas tested, and it was almost exclusively located to the stromal cells and not to cancer cells as previously reported, suggesting that MMP2 activation might be a peri‐fibroblastic event. Int. J. Cancer 82:208–212, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.