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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2012 Feb 1;5(1):o1–o7. doi: 10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.110.957803

Table 2.

Strategies To Evaluate MMP-Mediated ECM Peptide Generation and Determine Effects of the Peptides on Post-MI Remodeling

  1. Observe which ECM proteins in post-MI samples have lower than expected molecular weight as detected by mass spectrometry or immunoblotting.

  2. Demonstrate that purified MMP cleaves the recombinant ECM protein in vitro.

  3. Determine if the ECM proteolytic fragments generated in vitro are the same ones generated in vivo post-MI.

  4. Determine whether alterations in MMP levels (e.g., using MMP-null or transgenic mice) changes the ECM peptide levels.

  5. Determine if the ECM peptide has biological activity on:
    1. Cell specific functions in vitro; relevant cells include myocytes, leukocytes (neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes), fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells.
    2. LV specific functions in vivo by assessing if blocking or increasing ECM peptide levels alter left ventricular remodeling post-MI.