Figure 4. Extracellular matrix protein regulators MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were increased in diabetic (db/db) mouse hearts and conditioned media from isolated diabetic (db/db) cardiac fibroblasts.

Figure 4a demonstrates increased MMP-2 gelatinase activity levels from conditioned media of isolated db/wt and db/db hearts as measured by gelatin zymography. MMP-2 activity levels were also significantly increased in db/db LV lysates as measured by gelatin zymography (data not shown). Figure 4b shows a dramatic increase in TIMP-2 protein levels for isolated db/db cardiac fibroblasts. NG = normoglycemic media 5 mM glucose; HG = hyperglycemic media 25 mM glucose (*p<0.05; n = 4 independent experiments with 6 hearts per experiment).