Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein mediates endocytic clearance of Pro-MMP-2•TIMP-2 complex through a thrombospondin-independent mechanism

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) mediates the endocytic clearance of various proteinases and proteinase . inhibitor complexes, including thrombospondin (TSP)-dependent endocytosis of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 ( or gelatinase A), a key effector of extracellular matrix remodeling and cancer progression. However, the zymogen of MMP-2 (pro-MMP-2) mostly occurs in tissues as a complex with the tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMP-2). Here we show that clearance of the pro-MMP-2 . TIMP-2 complex is also mediated by LRP, because addition of receptor-associated protein ( RAP), a natural LRP ligand antagonist, inhibited endocytosis and lysosomal degradation of I-125-pro-MMP-2 . TIMP-2. Both TIMP-2 and the pro-MMP-2 collagen-binding domain independently competed for endocytosis of I-125-pro-MMP-2 . TIMP-2 complex. Surface plasmon resonance studies indicated that pro-MMP-2, TIMP-2, and pro-MMP-2 . TIMP- 2 directly interact with LRP in the absence of TSP. LRP-mediated endocytic clearance of I-125-pro-MMP-2 was inhibited by anti-TSP antibodies and accelerated upon complexing with TSP-1, but these treatments had no effect on I-125-pro-MMP-2 . TIMP- 2 uptake. This implies that mechanisms of clearance by LRP of pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-2 . TIMP- 2 complex are different. Interestingly, RAP did not inhibit binding of I-125-pro-MMP-2 . TIMP- 2 to the cell surface. We conclude that clearance of pro-MMP-2 . TIMP- 2 complex is a TSP-independent two-step process, involving (i) initial binding to the cell membrane in a RAP-insensitive manner and (ii) subsequent LRP-dependent (RAP-sensitive) internalization and degradation.