Figure 9.

MMP9 activity by 2D zymography. The activity of MMP9 was assessed by 2D zymography (a technique pioneered in the PI’s laboratory 19). The samples were mixed with ampholyte (pH 3–10) and soaked with IPG strips (pH 3–10). After performing Isoelectric focusing the strips were loaded in the second dimension on to PAGE gels containing 2% gelatin. The gel was washed with Triton X100 and incubated with developing buffer for 48 hrs. We observed that in the exercise group, there was significant reduction in the activity of the MMP9 which suggests that exercise can prevent the deleterious effects of MMP9 that lead to fibrosis and uncoupling.