FIGURE 5.

Decorin prevents the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteases necessary for tumor extravasation, metastasis, and VEGFA liberation. A, HeLa cell-conditioned medium treated with PBS or decorin (500 nm) for 24 h was evaluated for enzymatic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 via gelatin zymography. B, quantification of MMP-9 and MMP-2 enzymatic activity as determined in A as a function of relative MMP activity. C, HeLa interrogated 24 h post-decorin (500 nm) addition for the expression of MMP9 and MMP2 transcripts via qPCR. D, ELISA of total MMP-9 and MMP-2 as indicated and found in HeLa cell-conditioned medium (ng/ml/24 h) in the presence or absence of decorin (500 nm). Gene expression changes are reported as the average fold-change ± S.E. collated over 2–3 trials performed in quadruplicate and normalized to the housekeeping gene ACTB. Gel zymography and total MMP-2/9 ELISA were repeated twice in triplicate (*, p < 0.05; ***, p < 0.001).