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  • Silencing Matrix Metalloproteinases 9 and 2 Inhibits Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cell Invasion and Migration.

Silencing Matrix Metalloproteinases 9 and 2 Inhibits Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cell Invasion and Migration.

Ophthalmic research (2015-11-28)
Yonghao Gu, Genjie Ke, Lin Wang, Qihong Gu, Enliang Zhou, Qin He, Shiying Wang
ABSTRACT

Proliferative retinal angiogenesis may severely impair the retina. Previous studies have indicated that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 play important roles in the process of retinal angiogenesis. In this study, we suppressed MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression with RNA interference (RNAi) and then observed the inhibitory effects on the invasion and migration of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs). Small interfering RNAs against MMP-2 mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA were synthesized. After transfection, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in HRMECs was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Cell migration and invasion were measured with a migration assay and a scratch wound assay, respectively. RNAi against MMP-2 and MMP-9 successfully inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in HRMECs. MMP-2 and MMP-9 knockdown could inhibit the invasion and migration of HRMECs. These findings suggest that the RNAi approach towards MMP-2 and MMP-9 may be a potentially effective therapeutic method for the treatment of proliferative retinal angiogenesis.