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Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3 (TIMP-3) is a key regulator of extracellular matrix turnover for its ability to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), adamalysin-like metalloproteinases (ADAMs) and ADAMs with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs). TIMP-3 is a secreted protein whose extracellular levels are regulated by endocytosis via the low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1). In this study we developed a molecule able to "trap" TIMP-3 extracellularly, thereby increasing its tissue bioavailability. LRP-1 contains four ligand-binding clusters. In order to investigate the TIMP-3 binding site on LRP-1, we generated soluble minireceptors (sLRPs) containing the four distinct binding clusters or part of each cluster. We used an array of biochemical methods to investigate the binding of TIMP-3 to different sLRPs. We found that TIMP-3 binds to the ligand-binding cluster II of the receptor with the highest affinity and a soluble minireceptor containing the N-terminal half of cluster II specifically blocked TIMP-3 internalization, without affecting the turnover of metalloproteinases. Mass spectrometry-based secretome analysis showed that this minireceptor, named T3TRAP, selectively increased TIMP-3 levels in the extracellular space and inhibited constitutive shedding of a number of cell surface proteins. In conclusion, T3TRAP represents a biological tool that can be used to modulate TIMP-3 levels in the tissue and could be potentially developed as a therapy for diseases characterized by a deficit of TIMP-3, including arthritis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.matbio.2016.07.004

Type

Journal article

Journal

Matrix Biol

Publication Date

05/2017

Volume

59

Pages

69 - 79

Keywords

ADAMTSs, ADAMs, Extracellular matrix, Inflammation, Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1, Matrix metalloproteinases, Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3, Animals, Binding Sites, COS Cells, Cell Line, Tumor, Chlorocebus aethiops, Endocytosis, Epithelial Cells, Extracellular Matrix, Gene Expression Regulation, HEK293 Cells, Humans, Kinetics, Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1, Molecular Sequence Annotation, Neuroglia, Protein Binding, Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs, Protein Interaction Mapping, Protein Transport, Receptors, Artificial, Recombinant Proteins, Signal Transduction, Solubility, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3, Transfection