NHE1 mediates MDA-MB-231 cells invasion through the regulation of MT1-MMP

Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger 1 (NHE1), an important regulator of intracellular pH (pH_i) and extracellular pH (pH_e), has been shown to play a key role in breast cancer metastasis. However, the exact mechanism by which NHE1 mediates breast cancer metastasis is not yet well known. We showed here that inhibition of NHE1 activity, with specific inhibitor Cariporide, could suppress MDA-MB-231 cells invasion as well as the activity and expression of MT1-MMP. Overexpression of MT1-MMP resulted in a distinguished increase in MDA-MB-231 cells invasiveness, but treatment with Cariporide reversed the MT1-MMP-mediated enhanced invasiveness. To explore the role of MAPK signaling pathways in NHE1-mediated breast cancer metastasis, we compared the difference of constitutively phosphorylated ERK1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK in non-invasive MCF-7 cells and invasive MDA-MB-231cells. Interestingly, we found that the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in MDA-MB-231 cells were higher than in MCF-7 cells, but both MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells expressed similar constitutively phosphorylated JNK. Treating MDA-MB-231 cells with Cariporide led to decreased phosphorylation level of both p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in a time-dependent manner, but JNK activity was not influenced. Supplementation with MAPK inhibitor (MEK inhibitor PD98059, p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and JNK inhibitor SP600125) or Cariporide all exhibited significant depression of MDA-MB-231 cells invasion and MT1-MMP expression. Furthermore, we co-treated MDA-MB-231 cells with MAPK inhibitor and Cariporide. The result showed that Cariporide synergistically suppressed invasion and MT1-MMP expression with MEK inhibitor and p38 MAPK inhibitor, but not be synergistic with the JNK inhibitor. These findings suggest that NHE1 mediates MDA-MB-231 cells invasion partly through regulating MT1-MMP in ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways dependent manner.     

IQGAP1 stimulates proliferation and enhances tumorigenesis of human breast epithelial cells

The scaffold protein IQGAP1 integrates signaling pathways and participates in diverse cellular activities. IQGAP1 is overexpressed in a number of human solid neoplasms, but its functional role in tumorigenesis has not been previously evaluated. Here we report that IQGAP1 contributes to neoplastic transformation of human breast epithelial cells. The amount of IQGAP1 in breast carcinoma is greater than that in normal tissue, with highly metastatic breast epithelial cells expressing the highest levels. Overexpression of IQGAP1 enhances proliferation of MCF-7 breast epithelial cells. Reduction of endogenous IQGAP1 by RNA interference impairs both serum-dependent and anchorage-independent growth of MCF-7 cells. Consistent with these in vitro observations, immortalized MCF-7 cells overexpressing IQGAP1 form invasive tumors in immunocompromised mice, whereas tumors derived from MCF-7 cells with stable knockdown of IQGAP1 are smaller and less invasive. In vitro analysis with selected IQGAP1 mutant constructs and a chemical inhibitor suggests that actin, Cdc42/Rac1, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway contribute to the mechanism by which IQGAP1 increases cell invasion. Collectively, our data reveal that IQGAP1 enhances mammary tumorigenesis, suggesting that it may be a target for therapeutic intervention.     

Oxidative stress and prostate cancer progression are elicited by membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase

Oxidative stress caused by high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been correlated with prostate cancer aggressiveness. Expression of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), which has been implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis, is associated with advanced prostate cancer. We show here that MT1-MMP plays a key role in eliciting oxidative stress in prostate cancer cells. Stable MT1-MMP expression in less invasive LNCaP prostate cancer cells with low endogenous MT1-MMP increased activity of ROS, whereas MT1-MMP knockdown in DU145 cells with high endogenous MT1-MMP decreased activity of ROS. Expression of MT1-MMP increased oxidative DNA damage in LNCaP and in DU145 cells, indicating that MT1-MMP-mediated induction of ROS caused oxidative stress. MT1-MMP expression promoted a more aggressive phenotype in LNCaP cells that was dependent on elaboration of ROS. Blocking ROS activity using the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine abrogated MT1-MMP-mediated increase in cell migration and invasion. MT1-MMP-expressing LNCaP cells displayed an enhanced ability to grow in soft agar that required increased ROS. Using cells expressing MT1-MMP mutant cDNAs, we showed that ROS activation entails cell surface MT1-MMP proteolytic activity. Induction of ROS in prostate cancer cells expressing MT1-MMP required adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins and was impeded by anti-β1 integrin antibodies. These results highlight a novel mechanism of malignant progression in prostate cancer cells that involves β1 integrin-mediated adhesion, in concert with MT1-MMP proteolytic activity, to elicit oxidative stress and induction of a more invasive phenotype.     

Assessment of the MT1-MMP expression level of different cell lines by the naked eye

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is expressed in most tumors and is believed to play a key role in the development, invasion and metastasis of tumors. There is an urgent need to develop a simple method to detect the MT1-MMP expression level on cells. In this current study, we demonstrated a red emission Au cluster probes with the specific targeting of MT1-MMP on human dopaminergic neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. More importantly, utilizing the intrinsic enzyme-like activity of the Au cluster probes, the expression level of MT1-MMP on the SH-SY5Y cells could be assessed by the naked eye without cell lysis and protein extraction process. Furthermore, SH-SY5Y, human breast cancer (MCF-7), and human bronchial epithelial (16-HBE) cell lines with different MT1-MMP expression level could be distinguished using the Au cluster probes by the naked eye. Meanwhile, fluorescence intensity and Au count determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used to verify the feasibility of this simple analytical method. Our proposed method is rapid, convenient, and accurate and could be assessed by the naked eye. This visual assessment method of tumor-associated proteins has immense implications in sorting tumor cells.     

The cytoplasmic domain of MT1-MMP is dispensable for migration augmentation but necessary to mediate viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Membrane-type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a multifunctional protease that regulates ECM degradation, proMMP-2 activation, and varied cellular processes including migration and viability. MT1-MMP is believed to be a central mediator of tumourigenesis whose role is dictated by its functionally distinct protein domains. Both the localization and signal transduction capabilities of MT1-MMP are dependent on its cytoplasmic domain, exemplifying diverse regulatory functions. To further our understanding of the multifunctional contributions of MT1-MMP to cellular processes, we overexpressed cytoplasmic domain altered constructs in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and analyzed migration and viability in 2D culture conditions, morphology in 3D Matrigel culture, and tumorigenic ability in vivo. We found that the cytoplasmic domain was not needed for MT1-MMP mediated migration promotion, but was necessary to maintain viability during serum depravation in 2D culture. Similarly, during 3D Matrigel culture the cytoplasmic domain of MT1-MMP was not needed to initiate a protrusive phenotype, but was necessary to prevent colony blebbing when cells were serum deprived. We also tested in vivo tumorigenic potential to show that cells expressing cytoplasmic domain altered constructs demonstrated a reduced ability to vascularize tumours. These results suggest that the cytoplasmic domain regulates MT1-MMP function in a manner required for cell survival, but is dispensable for cell migration.     

Endosomal WASH and exocyst complexes control exocytosis of MT1-MMP at invadopodia

Remodeling of the extracellular matrix by carcinoma cells during metastatic dissemination requires formation of actin-based protrusions of the plasma membrane called invadopodia, where the trans-membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) accumulates. Here, we describe an interaction between the exocyst complex and the endosomal Arp2/3 activator Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein and Scar homolog (WASH) on MT1-MMP–containing late endosomes in invasive breast carcinoma cells. We found that WASH and exocyst are required for matrix degradation by an exocytic mechanism that involves tubular connections between MT1-MMP–positive late endosomes and the plasma membrane in contact with the matrix. This ensures focal delivery of MT1-MMP and supports pericellular matrix degradation and tumor cell invasion into different pathologically relevant matrix environments. Our data suggest a general mechanism used by tumor cells to breach the basement membrane and for invasive migration through fibrous collagen-enriched tissues surrounding the tumor.     

Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) processing of pro-alphav integrin regulates cross-talk between alphavbeta3 and alpha2beta1 integrins in breast carcinoma cells

We have recently demonstrated that in breast carcinoma MCF7 cells MT1-MMP processes the alphav, alpha3, and alpha5 integrin precursors generating the respective mature S-S-linked heavy and light alpha-chains. The precursor of alpha2 integrin subunit was found resistant to MT1-MMP proteolysis. The processing of the alphav subunit by MT1-MMP facilitated alphavbeta3-dependent adhesion, activation of FAK signaling pathway, and migration of MCF7 cells on vitronectin. To elucidate further the effects of MT1-MMP on cellular integrins, we examined the functional activity of alpha5beta1 and alpha2beta1 integrins in MCF7 cells expressing MT1-MMP. Either expression of MT1-MMP alone or its coexpression with alphavbeta3 failed to affect the functionality of alpha5beta1 integrin, and adhesion of cells to fibronectin. MT1-MMP, however, profoundly affected the cross-talk involving alphavbeta3 and alpha2beta1 integrins. In MT1-MMP-deficient cells, integrin alphavbeta3 suppressed the functional activity of the collagen-binding alpha2beta1 integrin receptor and diminished cell adhesion to type I collagen. Coexpression of MT1-MMP with integrin alphavbeta3 restored the functionality of alpha2beta1 integrin and, consequently, the ability of MCF7 cells to adhere efficiently to collagen. We conclude that the MT1-MMP-controlled cross-talk between alphavbeta3 and alpha2beta1 integrins supports binding of aggressive, MT1-MMP-, and alphavbeta3 integrin-expressing malignant cells on type I collagen, the most common substratum of the extracellular matrix.     

Age-related modifications of type I collagen impair DDR1-induced apoptosis in non-invasive breast carcinoma cells

ABSTRACT

Type I collagen and DDR1 axis has been described to decrease cell proliferation and to initiate apoptosis in non-invasive breast carcinoma in three-dimensional cell culture matrices. Moreover, MT1-MMP down-regulates these effects. Here, we address the effect of type I collagen aging and MT1-MMP expression on cell proliferation suppression and induced-apoptosis in non-invasive MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 breast carcinoma. We provide evidence for a decrease in cell growth and an increase in apoptosis in the presence of adult collagen when compared to old collagen. This effect involves a differential activation of DDR1, as evidenced by a higher DDR1 phosphorylation level in adult collagen. In adult collagen, inhibition of DDR1 expression and kinase function induced an increase in cell growth to a level similar to that observed in old collagen. The impact of aging on the sensitivity of collagen to MT1-MMP has been reported recently. We used the MT1-MMP expression strategy to verify whether, by degrading adult type I collagen, it could lead to the same phenotype observed in old collagen 3D matrix. MT1-MMP overexpression abrogated the proliferation suppression and induced-apoptosis effects only in the presence of adult collagen. This suggests that differential collagen degradation by MT1-MMP induced a structural disorganization of adult collagen and inhibits DDR1 activation. This could in turn impair DDR1-induced cell growth suppression and apoptosis. Taken together, our data suggest that modifications of collagen structural organization, due to aging, contribute to the loss of the growth suppression and induced apoptosis effect of collagen in luminal breast carcinoma. MT1-MMP-dependent degradation and aging of collagen have no additive effects on these processes.     

Mutation analysis of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). The role of the cytoplasmic tail Cys(574), the active site Glu(240), and furin cleavage motifs in oligomerization, processing, and self-proteolysis of MT1-MMP expressed in breast carcinoma cells

Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a key enzyme in the activation pathway of matrix prometalloproteinase-2 (pro-MMP-2). Both activation and autocatalytic maturation of pro-MMP-2 in trans suggest that MT1-MMP should exist as oligomers on the cell surface. To better understand the functions of MT1-MMP, we designed mutants with substitutions in the active site (E240A), the cytoplasmic tail (C574A), and the RRXR furin cleavage motifs (R89A, ARAA, and R89A/ARAA) of the enzyme. The mutants were expressed in MCF7 breast carcinoma cells that are deficient in both MMP-2 and MT1-MMP. Our results supported the existence of MT1-MMP oligomers and demonstrated that a disulfide bridge involving the Cys(574) of the enzyme's cytoplasmic tail covalently links MT1-MMP monomers on the MCF7 cell surface. The presence of MT1-MMP oligomers also was shown for the enzyme naturally expressed in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. The single (R89A and ARAA) and double (R89A/ARAA) furin cleavage site mutants of MT1-MMP were processed in MCF7 cells into the mature proteinase capable of activating pro-MMP-2 and stimulating cell locomotion. This suggested that furin cleavage is not a prerequisite for the conversion of pro-MT1-MMP into the functionally active enzyme. A hydroxamate class inhibitor (GM6001, or Ilomastat) blocked activation of MT1-MMP in MCF7 cells but not in HT1080 cells. This implied that a matrixin-like proteinase sensitive to hydroxamates could be involved in a furin-independent, alternative pathway of MT1-MMP activation in breast carcinoma cells. The expression of the wild type MT1-MMP enhanced cell invasion and migration, indicating a direct involvement of this enzyme in cell locomotion. In contrast, both the C574A and E240A mutations render MT1-MMP inefficient in stimulating cell migration and invasion. In addition, the C574A mutation negatively affected cell adhesion, thereby indicating critical interactions involving the cytosolic part of MT1-MMP and the intracellular milieu.     

Role of PTHrp and PTHrp-engaged pathways in MCF-7 cells migration/invasion.

In this paper the effect of N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrp) and PTHrp-engaged pathways on MCF-7 breast cancer cell migration/invasivity and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production were investigated. We found that: a) migration is not affected by PTHrp and Forskolin (FK)-activated PKA, while Phorbol Myristate Acetate (PMA)-activated PKC strongly stimulates MCF-7 cells motility. b) MMPs production was unaffected by PTHrp, but FK reduced membrane-type (MT)-1 MMP expression. Conversely, PMA induced a marked increase of MT1-MMP and MMP-9. c) Chemical activation of PKC is not sufficient, by itself, to confer invasive ability to MCF-7 cells, unless they were provided with additional factors, supplied by fibroblasts. d) Matrix invasion likely occurs through an activation cascade, involving at least three components: pro-MMP-9 and MT-1 MMP (supplied by PMA-stimulated MCF-7 cells) and pro MMP-2 (supplied by fibroblasts). e) The selective chemical inhibition of the adenylylciclase (AC)/PKA and phospholipase C (PLC)/PKC pathways confirmed that MCF-7 cells invasivity is not affected by exogenous PTHrp, which can only modulate their growth. However, the PTHrp responsibility in breast cancer invasion cannot be completely excluded. Indeed, fibroblasts are known to respond to PTHrp (which is a normal product of MCF-7 as well as other breast cancer cells) with enhanced release of MMP-2. On the basis of the documented requirement of fibroblast-derived MMP-2 for MCF-7 cell invasivity, a novel humoral fibroblast-breast cancer cell interaction, mediated by PTHrp, can be recognised.     

Phosphorylation of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) and its vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 (VAMP7)-dependent trafficking facilitate cell invasion and migration

In multicellular organisms, uncontrolled movement of cells can contribute to pathological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and cancer. In highly aggressive tumors, the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is linked to the capacity of tumor cells to invade surrounding tissue and current research indicates that the membrane-anchored membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) has a central role in this process. Endocytosis and trafficking of MT1-MMP are essential for its proper function, and here we examine the phosphorylation, internalization, and recycling of this enzyme, and the associated biochemical signaling in HeLa and HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. Activation of protein kinase C with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate resulted in phosphorylation of endogenous MT1-MMP at Thr(567) in vivo. Mutation of Thr(567) to alanine (to mimic non-phosphorylated MT1-MMP) reduced internalization of MT1-MMP, whereas mutation of Thr(567) to glutamic acid (to mimic phosphorylation) resulted in decreased levels of MT1-MMP on the cell surface. The endosomal trafficking and recycling of MT1-MMP was found to be dependent upon Rab7 and VAMP7, and blocking the function of these proteins reduced cell migration and invasion. Intracellular trafficking of MT1-MMP was observed to be coupled to the trafficking of integrin α5 and phosphorylation of ERK that coincided with this was dependent on phosphorylation of MT1-MMP. Together, these results reveal important roles for MT1-MMP phosphorylation and trafficking in both cell signaling and cell invasion.     

Tumor environment dictates medulloblastoma cancer stem cell expression and invasive phenotype

The neural precursor surface marker CD133 is thought to be enriched in brain cancer stem cells and in radioresistant DAOY medulloblastoma-derived tumor cells. Given that membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) expression is a hallmark of highly invasive, radioresistant, and hypoxic brain tumor cells, we sought to determine whether MT1-MMP and other MMPs could regulate the invasive phenotype of CD133(+) DAOY cells. We found that when DAOY medulloblastoma or U87 glioblastoma cells were implanted in nude mice, only those cells specifically implanted in the brain environment generated CD133(+) brain tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor gene expression increases in correlation with CD133 expression in those tumors. When DAOY cultures were induced to generate in vitro neurosphere-like cells, gene expression of CD133, MT1-MMP, MMP-9, and MDR-1 was induced and correlated with an increase in neurosphere invasiveness. Specific small interfering RNA gene silencing of either MT1-MMP or MMP-9 reduced the capacity of the DAOY monolayers to generate neurospheres and concomitantly abrogated their invasive capacity. On the other hand, overexpression of MT1-MMP in DAOY triggered neurosphere-like formation which was further amplified when cells were cultured in neurosphere medium. Collectively, we show that both MT1-MMP and MMP-9 contribute to the invasive phenotype during CD133(+) neurosphere-like formation in medulloblastoma cells. Increases in MMP-9 may contribute to the opening of the blood-brain barrier, whereas increased MT1-MMP would promote brain tumor infiltration. Our study suggests that MMP-9 or MT1-MMP targeting may reduce the formation of brain tumor stem cells.     

Conversion of stationary to invasive tumor initiating cells (TICs): role of hypoxia in membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) trafficking

Emerging evidence has implicated the role of tumor initiating cells (TICs) in the process of cancer metastasis. The mechanism underlying the conversion of TICs from stationary to invasive remains to be characterized. In this report, we employed less invasive breast cancer TICs, SK-3rd, that displays CD44(high)/CD24(low) with high mammosphere-forming and tumorigenic capacities, to investigate the mechanism by which stationary TICs are converted to invasive TICs. Invasive ability of SK-3rd TICs was markedly enhanced when the cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions. Given the role of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in cancer invasion/metastasis, we explored a possible involvement of MT1-MMP in hypoxia-induced TIC invasion. Silencing of MT1-MMP by a shRNA approach resulted in diminution of hypoxia-induced cell invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Under hypoxic conditions, MT1-MMP redistributed from cytoplasmic storage pools to the cell surface of TICs, which coincides with the increased cell invasion. In addition, CD44, a cancer stem-like cell marker, inversely correlated with increased cell surface MT1-MMP. Interestingly, cell surface MT1-MMP gradually disappeared when the hypoxia-treated cells were switched to normoxia, suggesting the plasticity of TICs in response to oxygen content. Furthermore, we dissected the pathways leading to upregulated MT1-MMP in cytoplasmic storage pools under normoxic conditions, by demonstrating a cascade involving Twist1-miR10b-HoxD10 leading to enhanced MT1-MMP expression in SK-3rd TICs. These observations suggest that MT1-MMP is a key molecule capable of executing conversion of stationary TICs to invasive TICs under hypoxic conditions and thereby controlling metastasis.     

The type I collagen induction of MT1-MMP-mediated MMP-2 activation is repressed by alphaVbeta3 integrin in human breast cancer cells.

The influence of alphaVbeta3 integrin on MT1-MMP functionality was studied in human breast cancer cells of differing beta3 integrin status. Overexpression of beta3 integrin caused increased cell surface expression of alphaV integrin and increased cellular adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) substrates in BT-549, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. beta3 integrin expression also enhanced the migration of breast cancer cells on ECM substrates and enhanced collagen gel contraction. In vivo, alphaVbeta3 cooperated with MT1-MMP to increase the growth of MCF-7 cells after orthotopic inoculation in immunocompromised mice, but had no influence on in vitro proliferation. Despite these stimulatory effects, overexpression of beta3 integrin suppressed the type I collagen (Col I) induced MMP-2 activation in all breast cancer cell lines analyzed. This was also evident in extracts from the MCF-7 tumors in vivo, where MMP-2 activation was stimulated by MT1-MMP transfection, but attenuated with beta3 integrin expression. Although our studies confirm important biological effects of alphaVbeta3 integrin on enhancing cell adhesion and migration, ECM remodeling and tumor growth, beta3 integrin caused reduced MMP-2 activation in response to Col I in vitro, which appears to be physiologically relevant, as it was also seen in tumor xenografts in vivo. The reduction of MMP-2 activation (and thus MT1-MMP activity) by alphaVbeta3 in response to Col I may be important in scenarios where cells which are activated for matrix degradation need to preserve some pericellular collagen, perhaps as a substrate for cell adhesion and migration, thus maintaining a balanced level of proteolysis required for efficient tumor growth.     

Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase regulates fibronectin assembly to promote cell motility

Fibronectin (FN) matrix assembly is an essential process in normal vertebrate development, which is frequently lost in tumor cells. Here we show that membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) regulates FN matrix assembly. MT1-MMP knockdown induced FN assembly in breast carcinoma cells. Ectopic expression of MT1-MMP reduced specifically the assembled FN matrix level without affecting whole FN production in fibroblasts. Treatment of fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells with dexamethasone (DEX) enhanced FN synthesis, resulting in short fibrils but not dense matrix formation. Combined treatment of DEX and MT1-MMP inhibitor accelerated FN matrix assembly, which mediated cellular adhesion and reduced cell migration and invasion. These results indicate that MT1-MMP stimulates cell migration and invasion by negatively regulating FN assembly.     

Regulation of membrane-type-1 matrix metalloproteinase activity by its cytoplasmic domain

Membrane-type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) has transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, which target it to invasive fronts. We analyzed the role of the cytoplasmic tail by expressing wild type MT1-MMP and three mutants with progressively truncated C termini in human Bowes melanoma cells. We examined gelatinase A activation and the localization and processing of recombinant proteins in stable cell clones using gelatin zymography, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence. Cell invasion was analyzed in vitro by Matrigel invasion assays. Gelatinase A was activated in all cell clones. However, the localization of MT1-MMP to the leading edge of migrating cells and cell invasion through Matrigel were strongly enhanced only in cells expressing either wild type or truncated MT1-MMP lacking 6 C-terminal amino acid residues (Delta577). Truncations of 10 or 16 amino acid residues in the cytoplasmic domain (Delta567 and Delta573, respectively) disturbed MT1-MMP localization. The expression of wild type and Delta577 MT1-MMPs induced also their cleavage to 43-kDa cell surface forms and the release of soluble, approximately 20-kDa N-terminal fragments containing the catalytic center. A synthetic MMP inhibitor but not a gelatinase inhibitor prevented the processing, suggesting that autocatalytic cleavage occurs. Purified soluble MT1-MMP was also autoproteolytically processed to 43- and 20-kDa forms in vitro. Our results indicate that the cytoplasmic domain has an important role in cell invasion by controlling both the targeting and degradation/turnover of MT1-MMP.