Furin and membrane type‐1 metalloproteinase mRNA levels and activation of metalloproteinase‐2 are associated with arterial remodeling

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Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation is an essential feature of pathological and physiological arterial enlargement or shrinkage. Recently, furin‐activated membrane type‐1 MMP (MT1‐MMP) was identified as the in vivo activator of MMP2 in mice. Although arterial enlargement and shrinkage are important in several pathological processes, this proprotein convertase–MT1‐MMP axis has not been described during arterial remodeling. In rabbit femoral and carotid arteries, we report an increase in furin and MT1‐MMP mRNA levels before and at the onset of arterial remodeling followed by an increase in activated MMP2. This reveals the presence of the proprotein convertase–MT1‐MMP axis in flow‐induced arterial remodeling and identifies furin as a possible target for local intervention in pathological arterial remodeling.