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Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common condition associated with inflammation and tissue remodeling of the nose and paranasal sinuses, frequently occurring with nasal polyps and allergies. Here we investigate inflammation and the protease profile in nasal tissues and plasma from control non-CRS patients and CRS patients. Gene expression for several cytokines, proteases, and antiproteases was quantified in nasal tissue from non-CRS and CRS subjects with nasal polyps. Elevated expression of S100A9, IL1A, MMP3, MMP7, MMP11, MMP25, MMP28, and CTSK was observed in tissue from CRS subjects with nasal polyps compared to control tissue. Tissue protein analysis confirmed elevated levels of these targets compared to controls, and increased MMP3 and MMP7 observed in CRS subjects with nasal polyps compared to CRS subjects without polyps. Plasma concentrations of MMP3 and MMP7 were elevated in the CRS groups compared to controls. The nasal cell line, CCL-30, was exposed to S100A9 protein, resulting in increased MMP3, MMP7, and CTSK gene expression and elevated proliferation. Silencing MMP3 significantly reduced S100A9-mediated cell proliferation. Therefore, the elevated expression of S100A9 and MMPs are observed in CRS nasal tissue and S100A9 stimulated MMP3 responses to contribute to elevated nasal cell proliferation.

Increased lung levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) are frequently observed during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and elevated MMP9 concentrations are associated with severe disease. However little is known of the functional role of MMP9 during lung infection with RSV. To determine whether MMP9 exerted direct antiviral potential, active MMP9 was incubated with RSV, which showed that MMP9 directly prevented RSV infectivity to airway epithelial cells. Using knockout mice the effect of the loss of Mmp9 expression was examined during RSV infection to demonstrate MMP9’s role in viral clearance and disease progression. Seven days following RSV infection, Mmp9-/- mice displayed substantial weight loss, increased RSV-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and reduced clearance of RSV from the lungs compared to wild type mice. Although total bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell counts were similar in both groups, neutrophil recruitment to the lungs during RSV infection was significantly reduced in Mmp9-/- mice. Reduced neutrophil recruitment coincided with diminished RANTES, IL-1β, SCF, G-CSF expression and p38 phosphorylation. Induction of p38 signaling was required for RANTES and G-CSF expression during RSV infection in airway epithelial cells. Therefore, MMP9 in RSV lung infection significantly enhances neutrophil recruitment, cytokine production and viral clearance while reducing AHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, but the molecular effects of cigarette smoke on vascular cells are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), a collagenase expressed in atherosclerosis and aneurysms but not in the normal vessel wall, is induced in the aortic endothelium of rabbits exposed to cigarette smoke. In vitro cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and one of its components, acrolein, inhibit the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70S6K pathway in human endothelial cells, and chemical inhibition of this pathway by rapamycin resulted in elevated MMP-1. Moreover, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-3 (TIMP-3), a major regulator of angiogenesis, is significantly downregulated in aortic endothelial cells treated with CSE, acrolein, or rapamycin. These data indicate that inhibition of mTOR by cigarette smoke components is a key event in the modulation of endothelial MMP-1 and TIMP-3 expression. Our study suggests that circulating smoke components, including acrolein, contribute to vascular diseases through enhanced MMP-1 and decreased TIMP-3 secretion in the endothelium, potentially leading to impaired angiogenesis, matrix disruption, and vessel injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]