Caveolae are a novel pathway for membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase traffic in human endothelial cells.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) distinctly modulates membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in human endothelial cells (ECs). Herein, ECM-dependent RhoA activation is shown to regulate MT1-MMP localization and activity as well as clathrin-independent internalization in confluent ECs. In this regard, caveolae are revealed as the major MT1-MMP endocytic pathway in human ECs. Thus, MT1-MMP is present at caveolae with caveolin-1 and both proteins together with alpha v beta 3 integrin colocalize at endothelial motility-associated extensions. Remarkably, caveolae traffic is required for proper MT1-MMP localization, activity, and function in migratory ECs as demonstrated by both treatment with caveolae-disrupting agents or selective targeting caveolin-1 expression by interference RNA. Thus, caveolae-mediated traffic constitutes a novel mechanism for MT1-MMP regulation in ECs during angiogenesis.