Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) Is an Endogenous Activator of the MMP-9 Secreted by Placental Leukocytes: Implication in Human Labor
Fig 2
Placental leukocytes in culture secrete pro-enzyme and active MMP-9.
A) Representative gelatin zymography (0.5 μg protein per lane) of placental leukocyte supernatants shows the 92 kDa pro-enzyme and the 82 kDa active form of MMP-9. B) The bars represent the optical densities (OD) of pro-enzyme and active MMP-9. While the pro-enzyme increased after 24h in supernatants, the active form was increased significantly only after 48h of culture. Seven independent experiments in duplicate are expressed as mean ± SD. *P≤0.05, **P≤0.005