Pigment Epithelium–Derived Factor Is a Substrate for Matrix Metalloproteinase Type 2 and Type 9: Implications for Downregulation in Hypoxia

Abstract

Hypoxia and VEGF can downregulate PEDF through proteolytic degradation. PEDF is a novel substrate for MMP-2 and -9. These results reveal a novel posttranslational mechanism for downregulating PEDF, and provide an explanation for hypoxia-provoked increases in VEGF/PEDF ratios, in angiogenesis and/or in neuronal death.