Fig. 3.
Steady-state mRNA levels for a number of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) as well as for fibrillar collagen type 3a1 (COL3A1) and latent transforming growth factor-β-binding protein (LTBP-1) were assessed within the myocardial infarct (MI) region at 28 days post-MI. The full mRNA array, nomenclature, and gene identification numbers are shown in Table 3. mRNA values are expressed as ΔΔCt values (where Ct is threshold cycle) (normalized to a standardized housekeeping gene and to referent control values) and constitute the x-axis. The steady-state mRNA levels that were identified to have significant fold changes at the 28-day post-MI time point are shown. COL3A1 and LTBP-1 increased by over threefold in the MI/saline and MI/MMP-sensitive hyaluronic acid (HA) gel (HAMMPS) groups and were reduced in the MI/HAMMPS/recombinant (r)TIMP-3 group. MMP-2 and MMP-14 as well as endogenous TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 mRNA levels increased in the MI/saline and MI/HAMMPS groups with a significant reduction in the MI/HAMMPS/rTIMP-3 group. *P < 0.05 vs. ΔΔCt of 0 (i.e., different from referent control); +P < 0.05 vs. MI/saline; #P < 0.05 vs. HAMMPS.