Reactive Oxygen Species Control Senescence-Associated Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Through c-Jun-N-Terminal Kinase

The lifetime exposure of organisms to oxidative stress influences many aging processes which involve the turnover of the extracellular matrix. In this study, we identify the redox-responsive molecular signals that drive senescence-associated (SA) matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression. Precise biochemical monitoring revealed that senescent fibroblasts increase steady-state (H2O2) 3.5-fold (13.7-48.6 pM) relative to young cells. Restricting H2O2 production through low O-2 exposure or by antioxidant treatments prevented SA increases in MMP-1 expression. The H2O2-dependent control of SA MMP-1 is attributed to sustained JNK activation and c-jun recruitment to the MMP-1 promoter. SA JNK activation corresponds to increases and decreases in the levels of its activating kinase (MKK-4) and inhibitory phosphatase (MKP-1), respectively. Enforced MKP-1 expression negates SA increases in JNK phosphorylation and MMP-1 production. Overall, these studies define redox-sensitive signaling networks regulating SA MMP-1 expression and link the free radical theory of aging to initiation of aberrant matrix turnover. J. Cell. Physiol. 225: 52-62, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.