Effect of linoleic acid hydroperoxide on production of matrix metalloproteinases by human aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells.

The effect of linoleic acid hydroperoxide on the production of proforms of matrix metalloproteinase-1, -2, and -3 (proMMP-1, -2, and -3) in cultured human arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells was investigated. Upon cultivation of the endothelial cells in the absence of the hydroperoxide, only proMMP-1 was detected, and its amount was increased by cultivation with the hydroperoxide. In the cultures of the intimal smooth muscle cells in the absence of the hydroperoxide, a large amount of proMMP-2 and small amounts of proMMP-1 and -3 were detected, and the hydroperoxide treatment increased remarkably the amounts of proMMP-1 and -3, but rather decreased the amount of proMMP-2. In the cultures of the medial smooth muscle cells, the same tendency was observed. However, the amounts of these proenzymes found in the intimal smooth muscle cells exceeded those found in the medial smooth muscle cells, both in the absence and in the presence of the hydroperoxide. Possible involvement of these phenomena in atherogenesis was discussed.