Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a critical role in tissue remodeling under both physiological and pathological conditions. Although MMP-9 expression is low in most cells and is tightly controlled, the mechanism of its regulation is poorly understood. We utilized mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) that were nullizygous for the catalytic ␣ subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is a key regulator of energy homeostasis, to identify AMPK as a suppressor of MMP-9 expression. Total AMPK␣ deletion significantly elevated MMP-9 expression compared with wild-type (WT) MEFs, whereas single knock-out of the isoforms AMPK␣1 and AMPK␣2 caused minimal change in the level of MMP-9 expression. The suppressive role of AMPK on MMP-9 expression was mediated through both its activity and presence. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9, 2 gelatinase B) degrades denatured collagens and native collagen type IV, which is a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membranes (1). Under normal circumstances, the degradation of the ECM by MMP-9 is a tightly controlled process involved in physiological wound healing and embryo development (1, 2). Conversely, aberrant degradation of ECM by excess MMP-9 expression results in the pathologic destruction of connective tissue seen in cancer, arterial sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis (1, 3). Therefore, under physiological conditions, regulated MMP-9 expression is low (1), but the mechanisms behind this are obscure.AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine kinase, which regulates energy homeostasis and metabolic stress (4). AMPK acts as a sensor of cellular energy status and maintains the balance between ATP production and consumption. In mammals, AMPK exists as a heterotrimer with ␣, , and ␥ subunits, each of which is encoded by two or three genes (␣1, ␣2, 1, 2, ␥1, ␥2, and ␥3). The ␣ subunit possesses catalytic activity, whereas the  and ␥ subunits are regulatory and maintain the stability of the heterotrimer complex. The importance of AMPK␣ is illustrated by the fact that dual deficiency of AMPK␣1 and AMPK␣2 is embryonic lethal (5).Recent evidence suggests that AMPK has a much wider range of functions, including the regulation of cell growth, cell proliferation, cell polarity, and autophagy (6, 7). Because these functions are closely linked to the pathology of MMP-9-related diseases, including cancer, arterial sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, we hypothesized that AMPK regulates MMP-9 expression. To address this, in the present study, we utilized AMPK␣-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to investigate the effect of the genetic deletion and activation of AMPK on MMP-9 expression.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESAntibodies, Recombinant Proteins, and Reagents-All antibodies, except for MMP-9 (Abcam, Cambridge, MA) and AMPK␣2 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA), were purchased from Cell Signaling (Beverly, MA). Recombinant mouse TNF-␣, MMP-9, and MMP-2 proteins were obtained from R&D Systems (