Chondrocyte matrix metalloproteinase-8. Human articular chondrocytes express neutrophil collagenase.

This study confirms that normal human articular chondrocytes express neutrophil collagenase or matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), a gene product previously thought to be expressed exclusively by neutrophil leukocytes. Both MMP-8 protein and mRNA were present in articular cartilages collected from normal human donors. Cartilage extracts were assayed by immunoblotting and by analysis of enzymatic activity on gelatin-substrate gels. Latent MMP-8 extracted from cartilage has a molecular mass of 55 kDa; active MMP-8 was identified at 46 and 42 kDa. In the absence of a reducing agent, MMP-8 migrated in a high molecular mass complex above 200 kDa. Northern blotting results demonstrated the expression of MMP-8 in chondrocytes, which could be up-regulated by stimulation with interleukin-1 beta. In addition, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using nested primers and in situ hybridization revealed the presence of MMP-8 mRNA in chondrocytes. The presence of both MMP-8 protein and message in cartilage supports the concept that neutrophil collagenase could be the enzyme described as "aggrecanase".