MINIREVIEW
Possible Role of
Matrix Metalloproteinases in Reconstruction of
Peripheral Pulmonary Arteries Induced by Hypoxia
J.
NOVOTNÁ1,3, J. HERGET2,3
1Department of
Biochemistry and 2Department
of Physiology, Second Faculty of Medicine,
Charles University, 3Center for Experimental
Cardiovascular Research, Prague, Czech Republic
Received November 7, 2001
Accepted January 16, 2002
Summary
Exposure to chronic hypoxia results in
hypoxic pulmonary hypertension characterized by
structural remodeling of peripheral pulmonary
vasculature. An important part of this remodeling
is an increase of collagen turnover and
deposition of newly formed collagen fibrils in
the vascular walls. The activity of
collagenolytic metalloproteinases in the lung
tissue is notably increased in the first days of
exposure to hypoxia. The increased collagenolytic
activity results in the appearance of collagen
cleavages, which may be implied in the triggering
of mesenchymal proliferation in peripheral
pulmonary arteries. We hypothesize that radical
injury to pulmonary vascular walls is involved in
collagenolytic metalloproteinase activation.
Key
words
Chronic
hypoxia · Hypoxic
pulmonary hypertension · Vascular
remodeling · Collagen · Metalloproteinases
Reprint
requests
Dr. Jan Herget, Dept. Physiology, Second Faculty
of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Plzeňská
221, 150 00 Prague 5. E-mail: Jan.Herget@lfmotol.cuni.cz
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