Arginine Metabolism by Macrophages Promotes Cardiac and Muscle Fibrosis in mdx Muscular Dystrophy
Figure 8
Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 were unaffected following L-arginine treatment.
(A) Gelatinase zymogram showing MMP-2 and –9 in muscle homogenates from long-term, L- or D-arginine-treated mdx or C57 mice. MMP-9 activity was detected at 100 kDa and MMP-2 activity was detected at 60 and 66 kDa. Human MMP-9 was used as a standard and migrates lower than mouse MMP-9 (47). (B) Densitometric analysis of cleared bands shows that MMP activity is greater in mdx tissues, but is not affected by L-arginine supplementation. * indicates significant difference at p<0.05 as compared to treatment-matched C57 samples. All mice were 18-months old.