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J. Cell Biol.,
Volume 144, Number 2, January 25, 1999 373-384

* Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; and Invasive glioma cells migrate preferentially
along central nervous system (CNS) white matter fiber
tracts irrespective of the fact that CNS myelin contains
proteins that inhibit cell migration and neurite outgrowth. Previous work has demonstrated that to migrate on a myelin substrate and to overcome its inhibitory effect, rat C6 and human glioblastoma cells require
a membrane-bound metalloproteolytic activity (C6-MP) which shares several biochemical and pharmacological characteristics with MT1-MMP. We show now
that MT1-MMP is expressed on the surface of rat C6
glioblastoma cells and is coenriched with C6-MP activity. Immunodepletion of C6-MP activity is achieved with an anti-MT1-MMP antibody. These data suggest
that MT1-MMP and the C6-MP are closely related or
identical. When mouse 3T3 fibroblasts were transfected
with MT1-MMP they acquired the ability to spread and
migrate on the nonpermissive myelin substrate and to
infiltrate into adult rat optic nerve explants. MT1-MMP-transfected fibroblasts and C6 glioma cells were
able to digest bNI-220, one of the most potent CNS myelin inhibitory proteins. Plasma membranes of both
MT1-MMP-transfected fibroblasts and C6 glioma cells
inactivated inhibitory myelin extracts, and this activity
was sensitive to the same protease inhibitors. Interestingly, pretreatment of CNS myelin with gelatinase
A/MMP-2 could not inactivate its inhibitory property.
These data imply an important role of MT1-MMP in
spreading and migration of glioma cells on white matter
constituents in vitro and point to a function of MT1-MMP in the invasive behavior of malignant gliomas in
the CNS in vivo.
Nervous System Research, Novartis Pharma Inc., 4002 Basle, Switzerland
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