Nicotine modulates gelatinase B (MMP-9) and epilysin (MMP-28) expression in reconstituted human oral epithelium

Oral epithelial keratinocytes express nicotinic cholinergic receptors which activation modulates keratinocytes differentiation and migration through different metabolic pathways. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are Zn-dependent enzyme involved in cell migration. Among them, gelatinase B (MMP-9) and epilysin (MMP-28) are two MMPs expressed by human keratinocytes during both wound healing and proliferation. Their expression has been investigated in a reconstituted human oral epithelium (HOE) exposed to nicotine (Nic, 1-50 μM) for 72 h both in the absence and presence of the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (Mec), H7, a PKC inhibitor and PD98059, a MAPK inhibitor (PD). At the end of treatment, MMP-28 expression has been analyzed in epithelium sections using an anti-MMP-28 antibody, whereas MMP-9 presence and activity has been measured in cell-conditioned medium analyzed by gelatine zymography. The expression of MMP-9 was reduced by Nic in a dose-dependent fashion and this effect was antagonized by Mec, H7 and PD. On the other hand, Nic increased the expression of MMP-28, and this effect was blocked both by H7 and PD, whereas Mec even enforced it. Nic effects on MMP-9 and MMP-28 expression by oral keratinocytes were not previously reported and these data suggest MMPs expression mediated by PKC and MAPK as a possible target for Nic toxicity in oral epithelium.