| The basement membrane protein laminin is a large multi-functional glycoprotein which has been shown to be important in the differentiation of multiple cell types, including neurons. Laminin will stimulate Gelatinase A or MMP2 secretion in cells (or from cells) in order to modify the secreting cell's surrounding extracellular matrix environment. This modification, or remodeling of the cell's environment by MMP2, is associated with significant cellular morphological changes, which in neurons includes the extension of neurites. Because neurite formation and maintenance are central to nerve development and repair, the mechanism of neurite outgrowth has significant implications for the healthy function of the nervous system. Prior studies have shown that laminin will induce MMP2 secretion from neurons into the culture media. However, these studies did not distinguish if that increase was due to activation of the enzyme, secretion of stored pools of the enzyme, or increased transcriptional activity of the MMP2 gene. Here, PC12 cells were cultured in the presence and absence of laminin and MMP2 gene transcription was measured using RT-PCR. The data show that the increased secretion is regulated at the transcriptional level. |
