Induction of Caspase-Mediated Cell Death by Matrix Metalloproteinases in Cerebral Endothelial Cells after Hypoxia—Reoxygenation
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may contribute to the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia by degrading matrix components in the neurovascular unit. In this study, the authors document a pathway by which MMPs interfere with cell—matrix interactions and trigger caspase-mediated cytotoxicity in brain endothelial cells. Hypoxia—reoxygenation induced endothelial cytotoxicity. Cytoprotection with zDEVD-fmk confirmed that cell death was partly caspase mediated. The temporal profile of caspase-3 activation was matched by elevations in MMP-2 and MMP-9. MMP inhibitors significantly decreased caspase-3 activation and reduced endothelial cell death. Degradation of matrix fibronectin confirmed the presence of extracellular proteolysis. Increasing integrin-linked kinase signaling with the β1 integrin-activating antibody (8A2) ameliorated endothelial cytotoxicity. The results suggest that MMP-9 and MMP-2 contribute to caspase-mediated brain endothelial cell death after hypoxia—reoxygenation by disrupting cell—matrix interactions and homeostatic integrin signaling.