Short communicationEffects of serum amyloid A on matrix metalloproteinase-9 production in feline lymphoma-derived cell lines

Serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration and plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels are increased in cats with lymphoma. In the present study, the association between SAA and MMP-9 production was evaluated using recombinant feline SAA (rfSAA) and three feline lymphoma-derived cell lines: 3201, MS4, and MCC. MMP-9 mRNA expression was significantly increased by rfSAA stimulation only in MCC cells. Secreted MMP-9 protein in culture media was confirmed by gelatin zymography, with clear bands of MMP-9 detected in MCC cells following rfSAA stimulation. A significant increase in semi-quantified MMP-9 levels was observed with 5 and 25 μg/ml of rfSAA stimulation. The infiltrative activities of feline lymphoma cells, assessed by the matrigel transwell assay, showed that rfSAA stimulated cell infiltration in MCC cells, in addition to MMP-9 expression. Although the response to rfSAA stimulation varied between cell lines, the results showed that rfSAA can stimulate MMP-9 production and infiltration of feline lymphoma-derived cells. The findings of this study have identified a novel role for SAA in the progression of some forms of feline lymphoma.