Loss of endothelial cell mmp14 reduces melanoma growth and metastasis by increasing tumor vessel stability

MMP14 belongs to a large family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases and plays a critical role in skin physiological and pathological processes. Complete loss of the protease resulted in severe developmental defects leading to early death. However, because of the premature death of the mice, the functional significance for endothelial cell expression of MMP14 in skin physiology and pathology in vivo postnatal is yet unknown. Using a mouse model with constitutive endothelial cell-specific deletion of MMP14 (MMP14EC-/-), we demonstrated that mice developed and bred normal, but melanoma growth and metastasis were reduced.
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research