Fig. 5.

RAGE/MT1-MMP signaling axis modified HMBG-1-mediated TF expression through RhoA and Rac1 activation and NF-κB phosphorylation. HMGB-1 induced RhoA/Rac1 activation and NF-kB phosphorylation in cultured human aortic ECs. HMGB-1 increased the activity of MT1-MMP, which resulted in subsequent activation of RAGE leading to RhoA/Rac1 activation and NF-κB phosphorylation in ECs, indicating that MT1-MMP was involved in vascular inflammation and might be an effective target for treating atherosclerosis⁸⁰⁾.