Effect of adenosine analogues on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors from human dermal fibroblasts.

The effect of the cytostatic and antiviral adenosine analogues 3-deazaadenosine (c3Ado) and 3-deaza-(+/-)-aristeromycin (c3Ari) on human skin fibroblasts was studied. Variables examined were cell morphology, viability, DNA fragmentation, expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (TIMPs). None of these variables were changed when cells were exposed to c3Ari concentrations ranging from 10(-5) to 10(-3) M or 10(-5) M c3Ado. However, large changes in cell morphology, viability and expression of MMPs and MMP inhibitors occurred when fibroblasts were treated with 10(-4) or 10(-3) M c3Ado. Cells rounded up, shrank in volume, some detached and viability was lost without any detectable fragmentation of DNA. These changes in morphology and viability were associated with a differentiated expression of MMPs and MMP inhibitors. A large increase in collagenase activity occurred, and depending on the concentration of the adenosine analogue and the length of treatment, this change in activity could be shown to be due to one or a combination of the following factors: an increased synthesis of the collagenase protein, a decreased production of TIMP-1 or an increased activity of the collagenase superactivator, stromelysin. In contrast to this, treatment with c3Ado resulted in a decreased gelatinase activity, which in part could be attributed to an increased production of an inhibitor that seemed to affect gelatinase but not collagenase. The cellular changes induced by c3Ado seemed to reflect some of the alteration in the metabolic machinery that appears during a drug-induced or programmed/controlled death of a dermal cell. The different effects exerted by these two adenosine analogues on dermal fibroblasts can at least in part explain why c3Ado have previously been shown to be more toxic than c3Ari in animal models.