Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Bacterial Expression and Purification of Human Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 using Affinity Chromatography
07:32

Bacterial Expression and Purification of Human Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 using Affinity Chromatography

Published on: March 30, 2022

Alpha1-antichymotrypsin activity correlates with and may modulate matrix metalloproteinase-9 in human acute wounds

Matthew J Reiss1, Yuan-Ping Han, Warren L Garner

  • 1Division of Plastic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Wound Repair and Regeneration : Official Publication of the Wound Healing Society [And] the European Tissue Repair Society
|August 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Alpha1-antichymotrypsin (alpha1-ACT) inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activation in human wound healing. This study shows alpha1-ACT levels correlate with MMP-9 activity, suggesting its clinical relevance in wound repair.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Dermatology
  • Wound Healing Research

Background:

  • Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is crucial in physiological processes, including wound healing.
  • MMP-9 is upregulated following tissue injury but its activators and inhibitors in human tissues are not fully understood.
  • Alpha1-antichymotrypsin (alpha1-ACT) was recently identified as a potent inhibitor of pro-MMP-9 activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical relevance of alpha1-ACT as an inhibitor of MMP-9 in cutaneous wound healing.
  • To analyze the relationship between MMP-9 activation and alpha1-ACT levels in human wound fluids and skin explants.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of wound fluids from acute burn blisters.
  • Analysis of conditioned media from skin explants of burn patients.
  • Assessment of pro-MMP-9 and active MMP-9 levels in relation to alpha1-ACT concentrations.

Main Results:

  • Pro-MMP-9 presence and activation correlated with injury proximity and severity.
  • High early levels of wound alpha1-ACT were associated with absent pro-MMP-9 activation.
  • Active MMP-9 was detected concurrently with alpha1-ACT inactivation.

Conclusions:

  • Alpha1-antichymotrypsin (alpha1-ACT) acts as a physiological inhibitor of MMP-9 activation in human wound healing.
  • The findings suggest a significant role for alpha1-ACT in regulating MMP-9 activity during the wound repair process.

More Related Videos

Detection of Functional Matrix Metalloproteinases by Zymography09:30

Detection of Functional Matrix Metalloproteinases by Zymography

Published on: November 8, 2010

Related Concept Videos

Role of Matrix Metalloproteases in Degradation of ECM01:23

Role of Matrix Metalloproteases in Degradation of ECM

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of proteins and glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix. MMPs are essential for the migration and proliferation of cells through the dense matrix network, throughout embryonic development, and throughout morphogenesis. The first MMP activity discovered was a collagenase in a tadpole's tail undergoing metamorphosis. The active collagen deposition and modifications lead to the morphogenesis of tadpoles into the adult body.
A...
The Extracellular Matrix01:29

The Extracellular Matrix

Overview
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...
The Extracellular Matrix01:42

The Extracellular Matrix

In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.Composition of the Extracellular MatrixThe extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse molecules.
Extracellular Matrix01:26

Extracellular Matrix

Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. This extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of fibrous proteins like collagen, elastin, and fibronectin in a ground substance consisting of interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans form a gel-like material in the spaces between cells and provide hydration, buffering, binding, and force...
Phases of Wound Repair01:28

Phases of Wound Repair

Following injury, the integrity of the injured tissues must be reestablished. For example, in skin tissue, wound repair involves coordination among resident skin cells, blood mononuclear cells, extracellular matrix, growth factors, and cytokines to complete the healing cascade.
Formation of Blood Clot
In case of deep injuries, trauma to blood vessels results in blood loss. In the meantime, phospholipids released from the ruptured endothelial cellular membrane are converted into arachidonic...
Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects01:25

Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects

Acute inflammation produces a coordinated set of local and systemic changes that limit injury, eliminate pathogens, and initiate repair. These responses arise within minutes of infection, trauma, or chemical insult and are driven by vascular alterations and leukocyte-derived mediators. When the stimulus resolves, the reaction typically abates within days.Local EffectsAt the site of injury, arteriolar vasodilation increases blood flow, resulting in redness and warmth. Simultaneously, increased...