RALUCA CIUBĂR, VALENTINA MITRAN, ADELA BONOIU, ANIŞOARA CIMPEAN, DANA IORDĂCHESCU

Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, 93 Spl. Independenței, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract.We report the effect of nickel chloride on fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction, fibroblast migration and pattern of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities expressed by human embrionary lung fibroblasts (HELFs). After the treatment with nickel chloride, gelatin zymography, cazein zymography and also western blot assay revealed a significant decrease of MMP-2 and MMP-1 active forms. MMP-inhibition was associated with a reduction of HELF-mediated collagen matrix contraction. A dose of 10 mM NiCl2 completely supressed matrix contraction and cell migration.

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