Fig. 5

LZ prevents AGE-suppressible gene expression, and proteolytic activity of mesangial cell MMP-9, but not MMP-2. (A)

Primary murine mesangial cell cultures (1 × 10⁶/well) were incubated with AGE-BSA, BSA (500 µg/ml each), AGE-BSA + LZ (200 µg/ml) or media (DMEM/ F12 + 20% FCS) (CL) for 24 hr at 37°C. RT-PCR for MMP-2 and MMP-9 was performed as described in Methods, β-actin is shown as an internal control gene. (B) Densitometric analysis of triplicate experiments represented in panel (A). ^** p < 0.001 vs AGE + LZ. (C) MMP-9 and MMP-2 activity in mesangial cell extracts was assessed by zymography, based on gelatinase activity, gels were stained with Coommassie Blue (0.5%). From left to right, lanes identities are the same as in (A), in pairs, with the addition of standard (MMP-9, -2). (D,E) Densitometric analysis of three identical experiments on MMP-9 and MMP-2 activities as presented in panel (C). ^**p < 0.001 vs AGE + LZ.