Background
Collagenases are enzymes starting collagen degradation. The role of collagenases in renal carcinoma development is not well understood.
Conclusions
The lower content and higher activity of the collagenases investigated in cancer tissue indicate that most of these enzymes are in active form in renal carcinoma. The lower collagen content in cancer tissue can be explained at least in part by increased collagenase activity.
Methods
Collagen content was measured by the hydroxyproline assay. The expression and the content of collagenases were evaluated by Western blotting and ELISA. Fluorogenic substrate was used to measure enzyme activity.
Objective
Evaluation of collagen content and collagenase expression and activity in human kidney cancers.
Results
Collagen content significantly decreases with the progression of kidney cancer. Both collagenases are first present in high molecular complexes in both control and cancer tissue. The healthy part of the kidney contains similar amounts of both collagenases. Collagenase content decreased significantly in tumor tissue with increasing cancer stage. MMP-13 activity is much higher than that of MMP-1 in all tissues investigated. We observed increasing collagenase activity (MMP-1 and MMP-13) with increasing renal cancer grade. Conclusions: The lower content and higher activity of the collagenases investigated in cancer tissue indicate that most of these enzymes are in active form in renal carcinoma. The lower collagen content in cancer tissue can be explained at least in part by increased collagenase activity.