Age-Related Changes in the System Metalloproteinases/Tissue Metalloproteinase Inhibitors and Proteoglycan Components in Mouse Organs

Abstract

Activity of MMP and content of TIMP and some proteoglycan components were measured in the liver, lungs, and spleen of BALB/c mice aging 2, 6, and 12 months. The increase in the content of proteoglycan components in mouse organs was associated with age-related changes in MMP activity and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels. The ratio between MMP activity and content of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 differed in the studied organs. The levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in mouse blood serum and their concentration in studied organs changed asynchronously with age. They are important regulators that determine MMP activity in the analyzed age periods in mice, which can be determined as periods of growth, development, and ageing.