Role of the Metalloproteinase Stromelysin in Axon Invasiveness

基质溶酶是一类分泌的金属蛋白酶，可降解细胞外基质的各种成分。最近的证据表明，神经细胞分泌基质溶解素可能在轴突生长中起作用。为了解决这个问题，神经元样克隆细胞系PC12将被用于一种新的体外实验，研究实验处理的基质溶解素水平对基底膜神经突侵袭性的影响。此外，还将利用免疫细胞化学和原位底物降解技术研究PC12生长锥释放基质溶素的可能性。此外，还将在胚胎大鼠中研究基质溶解素mRNA的组织特异性和发育阶段特异性表达。这些研究有望增强我们对参与轴突生长的分子机制的理解。

Stromelysins are a family of secreted metalloproteinases that degrade various components of the extracellular matrix. Recent evidence suggests that the secretion of stromelysins from nerve cells may play a role in axonal growth. To address this issue, the neuronal-like clonal cell line, PC12, will be used in a novel in vitro assay to study the effect of experimentally manipulated stromelysin levels on neurite invasiveness of basal lamina. The possible release of stromelysin from PC12 growth cones will also be studied using immunocytochemistry and in situ substrate degradation. In addition, possible tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expression of stromelysin mRNA will be studied in the embryonic rat. These studies promise to enhance our understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in the growth of axons.