Control of extracellular matrix degradation by interferon-gamma. The tryptophan connection

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) is a potent signal for the induction of the matrix-degrading enzymes collagenase and stromelysin. These metalloproteinases (MMP) play a critical role in physiologic and pathologic connective tissue remodeling, and are potential targets for therapeutic manipulation. Treatment of human dermal fibroblasts with interferon-gamma inhibited. Type I collagen gene expression, and abrogated the effect of IL-1 beta on MMP expression. Interferon-gamma also caused a dramatic dose-dependent increase in indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA, with consequent depletion of tryptophan and accumulation of kynurenine in the culture media. To examine the role of tryptophan metabolism in the effects of interferon-gamma on matrix-degrading enzymes, exogenous tryptophan was added to tryptophan-depleted media, followed by stimulation of the cultures with IL-1 beta. Supplementation with tryptophan completely overcame the inhibitory effects of interferon-gamma on MMP mRNA expression and metalloproteinase secretion into the media. In contrast mRNA levels for Type I collagen remained profoundly depressed in interferon-gamma-treated cultures in spite of addition of exogenous tryptophan. These results indicate that oxidative tryptophan metabolism mediates the effects of interferon-gamma on MMP gene expression in human fibroblasts.