Lymphocytes bound at endothelial cell junctions extravasate within minutes. Lymphocyte-endothelial cell binding is mediated by receptors such as vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). VCAM-1 activates endothelial cell nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in minutes, and this activity is required for VCAM-1-dependent lymphocyte migration. In this report, we examined mechanisms for activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) during VCAM-1-dependent lymphocyte migration. Lymphocyte binding to VCAM-1 rapidly activated endothelial cell-associ-
IntroductionLymphocytes migrate out of the blood between endothelial cells and into tissues where the lymphocytes can interact with antigen. Endothelial cells bind lymphocytes through cell surface adhesion molecules. One of these adhesion molecules is vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). It is important to understand VCAM-1 signaling because it is involved in several diseases. For example, VCAM-1 is required for eosinophil infiltration into the lung in experimental ovalbumin-induced asthma, 1 as well as T-cell infiltration across the blood-brain barrier in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). 2 In addition, VCAM-1 functions in combination with other adhesion molecules during chronic inflammation and tumor metastasis. Understanding VCAM-1 signaling may have important implications for disease intervention.We have reported that VCAM-1 signaling in endothelial cells is required for VCAM-1-dependent lymphocyte migration. 3 Stimulation of VCAM-1 activates endothelial cell nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, which catalyzes the release of low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cytokinetreated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in endothelial cell lines. 4,5 These ROS are required for VCAM-1-stimulated endothelial cell actin restructuring and lymphocyte migration. 3,6,7 Therefore, ROS are involved in modulating endothelial cell function to promote VCAM-1-dependent lymphocyte migration.It has been reported that VCAM-1-dependent adhesion of a T-cell line activates lymphocyte matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) after 5 hours. 8 However, the mechanism(s) for VCAM-1 activation of lymphocyte MMPs is not known. It is also not known whether VCAM-1 signaling activates endothelial cell MMPs. Activated MMPs degrade extracellular matrix, cell surface receptors in cell-cell junctions, and tight junction proteins. 9-11 MMP activation can be regulated by ROS. In smooth muscle cells, the latent form of MMP-2 (pro-MMP-2) is released after mechanical stretchstimulated production of ROS by NADPH oxidase. 12 In cell-free systems, low concentrations of ROS can activate pro-MMPs by oxidation of the sulfide bond in the prodomain of the MMP followed by release of this prodomain by autocatalytic cleavage. 13 In this report, we demonstrate that VCAM-1 rapidly activates endothelial cell-associated MMPs and that this activation is mediated by endothelial cell-derived ROS. In addition, endothelial cell-derived ROS are i...