Wpiegulation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on protease secretion in RAW 264.7 cell and its possible mechanism

Aim: To study the effect of Macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF) on MMP-9 in RAW 264.7 cell and explore the relationship between atherosclerosis caused by M-CSF and the activity of MMP-9. Methods: Gelatin zymography analysis was used to investigate the effect of M-CSF and PD98059 on the activity of MMP-9 in cultured RAW 264.7 cell. Western blot was used to study the effect of M-CSF and PD98059 on the express of p-ERK1/2 in cultured RAW 264.7 cell. Results: The enzyme activity of MMP-9 was significantly increased after 24-hour M-CSF treatment. Meanwhile, M-CSF upregulated the expression of p-ERK1/2. Pre-treatment with PD98059 blocked partly the increased expression of p-ERK1/2 and the activity of MMP-9 induced by M-CSF. Conclusion: M-CSF can induce the secretion of MMP9 in RAW 264.7 cell, which may be mediated by the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.