Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2 and -9 Gene Expression in Cultured Human Fetal Membrane Cells by Influenza Virus Infection

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin 2016/12/01, Vol.39(12), pp.1912-1921
• Main Authors: Uchide, Noboru, Obatake, Kyoko, Yamada, Rie, Sadanari, Hidetaka, Matsubara, Keiko, Murayama, Tsugiya, Ohyama, Kunio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amnion; Cell culture; Cells, Cultured; Chorion; Cleavage; Cytoskeleton - metabolism; Degradation; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - virology; Etiology; Extracellular matrix; Extraembryonic Membranes - cytology; Extraembryonic Membranes - metabolism; Extraembryonic Membranes - virology; Female; fetal membrane; Fetuses; Gelatin; Gelatinase A; Gelatinase B; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Infections; Influenza; Influenza A; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; influenza virus; Influenza, Human - genetics; Influenza, Human - metabolism; matrix metalloproteinase; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Membranes; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - metabolism; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - virology; Mesenchyme; placenta; Polymerase chain reaction; Pregnancy; RNA-directed DNA polymerase; Tissues; Trophoblasts - metabolism; Trophoblasts - virology; Viruses; Western blotting
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b16-00093

In order to understand a possible etiology of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with intrauterine influenza virus infection, we examined the effect of influenza virus infection on gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cultured amnion epithelial, amnion mesenchymal and chorion trophoblast cells prepared from human fetal membrane tissues by gelatin zymography, Western blotting and reverse transcriptase-PCR. The cells were infected with influenza A (H1N1) virus. The levels of pro-MMP-9 activity in culture supernatants of three types of cells were increased during the period of 24–48 h after the virus infection as compared to those of mock infection. Chorion trophoblast cells spontaneously released a much greater level of pro-MMP-2 activity than amnion epithelial and amnion mesenchymal cells. The cleavage of pro-MMP-2 into an active intermediate form was enhanced in chorion trophoblast cells by the virus infection. The activity levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in culture supernatants were consistent with their protein levels. The virus infection induced the mRNA expression of MMP-9, but not MMP-2, in three types of cells. These results suggest that influenza virus infection induces the gene expression of MMP-9 and the cleavage of pro-MMP-2 into an active intermediate form in human fetal membrane cells, resulting in weakening of the membranes through extracellular matrix degradation. Therefore, it is possible that the regulation of MMPs gene expression in fetal membrane cells by influenza virus infection is implicated in a part of the etiology of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with intrauterine infection with the virus.