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MMP‐2 dysfunction in African Americans Endothelial Cells: Potential Biomarker of Hypertension Risk?
Author(s) -
Cook Marc D,
Aldokhayyil Maitha,
Adeyemo Adelola,
Fernhall Bo,
Brown Michael
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.837.6
Subject(s) - endothelial dysfunction , endocrinology , medicine , biomarker , umbilical vein , endothelium , in vitro , chemistry , biochemistry
Background MMP‐2 is a biomarker that has been associated with systolic hypertension and arterial stiffness African Americans (AA). Endothelial cells (EC) constitutively express MMP‐2, where it mediates extracellular matrix turnover, and its dysfunction likely has some role in vascular function. In a small cohort of young AA and Caucasian (CA) men, we have data showing an inverse moderate correlation between circulating MMP‐2, carotid BP ( r =−0.555), and aortic BP ( r =−0.509) in AA ( n =14) with no relationship in CA (n=18). In this preliminary in vitro study, we postulated a racial difference concerning MMP‐2 activity which contributes to endothelial dysfunction (EnDy) in AA. Methods The present preliminary work evaluated gene and protein expression and activity (via zymography) of secreted MMP‐2 in 4 AA and 4 CA primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Results MMP‐2 gene (>2‐fold increase, t 2.8, 12 : p=0.01*; Fig 1a) and protein (~2‐fold increase p=0.07; Fig 1b) expression were higher in AA. However, secreted MMP‐2 activity was significantly lower in AA EC (>2‐fold decrease t 2.2, 14 : p=0.04; Fig 2). Conclusion These in vitro data highlight EnDy in AA primary EC and suggest that blunted MMP‐2 activity may contribute to endothelial‐mediated vascular dysfunction (reduced extracellular matrix maintenance) and subsequent hypertension risk in AA. Further studies are necessary, and underway, to investigate the epigenetic and post‐translational regulation of MMP‐2 and its vasoactive properties in AA EC. Support or Funding Information Departmental