Fig. 3.

Troglitazone inhibits MMP-3 production and gelatinase activity, but not that of MMP-2, in FLS culture media. Western blot analysis of (a) MMP-2 (n = 7), (b) MMP-3 (n = 7) and (c) gelatin zymography (n = 5) for the analysis of functional gelatinase activity. The upper panel shows representative films, and the lower panel shows the mean ± s.d. values relative to the corresponding values in unstimulated FLS. FLS were incubated for 24 h for the analysis of MMP-2 production, 72 h for MMP-3 production and 24 h for the assay of gelatinase activity. Note that the production of MMP-3 and the functional gelatinase activity present in FLS culture media were both inhibited by troglitazone. Troglitazone did not suppress MMP-2 production by FLS. * P <0·05; ** P <0·01 ( Student's t-test); n.s.: no significant differences among groups.