The purpose of this study was to analyze whether FSH and LH hormone treatment directly or indirectly affect embryo development in embryonic development. To determine this, we compared the development of embryonic cells through the expression pattern of MMPs. As a result, 33.8% of blastocysts were formed in FSH added group, 20.8% in LH added group and 10% in FSH + LH added group. In addition, the activity of MMP-9 was highly detected in the FSH-added group, and the expression of Casp-3 was much lower than that of the other groups. These results suggest that the addition of FSH seems to increase the activity of MMP-9 in embryonic cells, and that LH, on the contrary, may activate MMP-2 activity. In addition, the expression level of MMP-2 in the FSH-added group was high in the Trophoblast cell group and in the LH-added group, the hormone ideal secretion might affect the development of the embryonic cell.

Cordycepin, a specific polyadenylation inhibitor, is the main functional component in Cordyceps militaris that is one of the top three renowned traditional Chinese medicines. In this study, we performed in vitro experiments to investigate the anti-invasive and anti-metastatic activities of cordycepin using human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells. Cordycepin were administered and their effects on LPS-induced cell migration and invasion by wound healing migration assay, measurement of TER and In vitro invasiveness assay. Within the concentrations which were not cytotoxic effects, cordycepin caused a concentration-dependent suppression of LPS-induced cell migration and invasion. The anti-invasive activity of cordycepin was also found to be associated with increased tightness of the TJ, which was confirmed by an increase in TER. The activity of MMP-2 in LNCaP cells was dose-dependently inhibited by treatment with cordycepin, and this was also correlated with a decrease in expression of its mRNA and proteins, and up-regulation of TIMPs expression. Additionally, cordycepin repressed the LPS-induced NF-kB activation and phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT. Taken together, these findings suggest that cordycepin inhibited LPS-induced migration and invasion of LNCaP cells by down-regulating the expression and activity of MMP-2, and the possible targets may be NF-kB and PI3K/AKT.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in tissue development and re-modeling. Dynamic morphological changes of tooth germs reflect involvement of these enzymes during odontogenesis. The present study was performed to investigate expression and localization of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which have been known to have type IV collagenase activities, in rat tooth germs at different developmental stages. MMP-2 expression was increased gradually in the tooth germs from cap to crown staged germs at both transcription and translation levels. The localization of this molecule was detected in secretory ameloblasts and preameloblasts. The strong immunoreactivities were occasionally seen along the basement membrane between ameloblasts (or preameloblasts) and odontoblasts (preodontoblasts). However, weak reactivity was detected in odontoblasts and reduced enamel epithelium. The level of MMP-9 expression in the tooth germs was higher in cap stage than in crown staged germs at both transcription and translation levels. They were strongly expressed in both ameloblasts and odontoblasts. Even though reduced enamel epithelium after enamel formation and inner enamel epithelium at the cap stage exhibited weak reactivity, strong reactivity was detected in dental follicles and perifollicular tissues surrounding cap staged germs. These results suggested that MMP-2 may involve degradation of the basement membrane during hard tissue formation, whereas MMP-9 might be involved in remodeling of follicular tissues.

Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) are involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix, which is re lated to infiltrative growth and metastasis of tumor and are regulated by tisslle inhibitor of metalloproteinases(TIMPs) or cell adhesion molecllles such as E-cadherin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between MMP-2, MMP-9 expressions and clinico-pathologic factors, 끼MP-1 ， TIMP-2, EGFR and E-cadherin expressions. lmmunohistochemical stains were perfom1ed on 55 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the ordl cavity and the results were as follows. MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions were noted in 30(54.5%) and 22(40.0%) of 55 cases, TIMP-1 and πMP-2 in 21(38.2%) and 33(60.0%), and E-cadherin and EGFR expressions in 35(63.6%) and 26(47.3%) of 55 cases, respectively. MMP-2 expression rdte was slightly higher 띠 cases without recurrence, and 끼MP- 2 expression rate was slightly higher in cases showing more inftltrative growth pattem. 까1e expression rate of EGFR was higher in cases with well differentiation(p=0.OO47), but no posi디ve relationship between the expression rate of Ecadherin and histologic grade was found. Cases with positive reaction for MMP-9 showed an increasing tendency of nega디ve reaction for TIMP-1. π1e expression rate of MMP-2 was higher in cases with positive reaction for E-cadherin and EGFR with no statistical significance. 까1e expression rate of MMP-9 was significantly higher in cases with positive reaction for E-cadherin(p=0.022l). These results suggest that MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expressions are involved in the development of oral squamous cell carcinomas, but MMP-2, MMP-9, 끼MP-1 ， and 끼MP-2 expressions might not seem to be a useful prognostic factors because there were no significant relationship between clinicopathologic parameters. EGFR expression showed positive correlation with low histologic grade, so EGFR expression could be regarded as a good prognostic factor. In the progression of sqllamous cell

In the expansion of odontogenic cyst, degradation of extracellular matrix and resorp디on of bone are accompa띠ed ， but its mechanism is under debate. The degrees of inflammation and fibrosis were graded in 39 cases of odontogenic cysts. Cytoplasrnic expressions in various cell types according to them were analyzed using immunohistochemis띠， for MMPs and πMPs. In epithelial cells, MMP-2 expression was increased with marked fibrosis(p=O.018) and in stromal cells, MMP-2,-9 and TIMP-2 expressions were slightly higher in cases with mild inflammation and marked fibrosis. Tendencies of positive correlation were found between MMP-2,-9 and TIMP-2 expressions in epithelial cells and between MMP-l and MMP-9 expressions in stromal cells. These results suggest that MMP-l ,-2 ,-9 and TIMP-2 expression might be related to the expansion of odontogenic cysts, and the expression rate of them was different according to cell types and the degree of inflammation and fibrosis.

MMPs are catalytic enzymes involved in the degradation of extracellular marix, and associated with invasive growth and metastasis of malignant tumors along with angiogenesis. This study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of VEGF expression and microvessel density(MVD) and the relationship between VEGF expression, MVD and MMPs expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas(OSCC). The materials were from 52 cases of OSCC during a period from 1991 to 2001. Clinicopathologic parameters such as clinical stage, recurrence, histologic grade and invasion pattern were evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining for MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF and CD34 were performed and statistical analyses between clinicopathologic parameters and VEGF expression and MVD were done. MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF expressions were noted in 30(57.7%), 21(40.1%) and 38(73.1%) of 52 cases, respectively. MVD was measurable in 35 cases, and cases with increased MVD more than average were 16(45.7%) of 35 cases. There was no significant relationship between clinicopathologic parameters and VEGF expression or MVD in OSCC, which suggests that VEGF expression and MVD can not be regarded as reliable prognostic factors. Cases with less infiltrative growth pattern showed a tendency of increased MVD, which can explain the possibility that neovascularization might be an early event of tumor invasion. Lack of significant relationship between MMPs, VEGF expressions and MVD might be due to limited number of cases, and positive correlation between MMP-2 and VEGF expression suggests that both factors might be involved in the process of angiogenesis in OSCC.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.(family Nymphaeaceae) has been used for summer heat syndrome as home remedy in Japan, China and Korea. Although whole plant parts are edible, root is commonly consumed. It has been reported that rhizome extract showed anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, in spite of usefulness for treatment of various diseases, the effect of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome(NNR) on proliferation, migration and matrix degrading enzymes-matrix metalloproteinsases(MMPs), the expression of which degrades extracellular matrix(ECM) leading to metastasis, has not been fully elucidated. We examined the effect of hot water extract of NNR on the proliferation, migration and secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in rat smooth muscle cells(rSMC), epidermoid cancer cells(A431) and breast cancer cells(MDA-MB-231). The proliferation assay was carried out using MTT assay, the principle of which depends upon the conversion of MTT by mitochondrial dehydrogensases of viable cells to formazan crystals. The effect of NNR on migration of cells was examined using wound healing assay. Our results showed that there was inhibition in the proliferation, migration and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in dose dependent fashion in all the cells used. Thus, we concluded that NNR could be used as traditional medicine in the treatment of various diseases where proliferation, migration and MMPs' expression plays a pathological role like in restenosis and metastasis.

노화 과정 중에 일어나는 extracellular matrix (ECM)의 변성은 피부의 주름과 탄력 감소를 유발한다. 현재까지 항노화의 주요 타겟은 metalloproteases 혹은 콜라겐이나 엘라스틴같은 구조 단백질에 집중되어 있지만, 최근 세포와 ECM 단백질(콜라겐, 피브릴린, 파이브로넥틴) 간의 상호작용이 세포의 생존과 증식, 조직의 재건에 중요한 역할을 한다고 알려졌다. 파이브로넥틴은 다른 ECM 단백질이나 인테그린 같은 세포 표면 수용체와 결합할 수 있는 부위를 가진 부착 단백질이다. 최근 보고에 따르면 세린 프로티아제들에 의해 분해된 파이프로넥틴 조각이 골아세포에서 MMPs 발현을 증가시킨다. 그러나 파이브로넥틴 조각의 사람 피부에서의 역할은 보고된 바 없다. 본 연구에서는 노인의 피부에서 파이브로넥틴 조각이 현저히 증가되어 있으며, 섬유아세포에 파이브로넥틴 조각을 처리하였을 시, MMP-1의 발현과 MMP-2의 활성이 증가한다는 것을 입증하였다. 이 결과는 파이브로넥틴 조각이 피부 노화를 유발하는 새로운 인자일 가능성을 제시하고 있다.