Human T lymphocytes express a member of the Matrix Metalloproteinase gene family.

OBJECTIVE: T lymphocytes are known to interact with cellular and structural components of the extracellular matrix. We investigated whether T lymphocytes could also contribute to matrix breakdown by expression of a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) gene. METHODS: Complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from messenger RNA extracted from cultured peripheral blood T lymphocytes after exposure to phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore A23187 and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction with primers derived from two conserved domains in MMP genes. RESULTS: An amplification product of 402 basepairs was generated and cloned; sequence analysis revealed identity to human stromelysin-2 cDNA. Using the amplified stromelysin-2 cDNA as a probe for Northern analyses, we detected a 1.8-kilobase transcript in stimulated T lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: T lymphocytes are a potential source of stromelysin-2 transcripts and may have a role in the degradation of extracellular matrix constituents.