Abstract: Objective To explore the inhibitory action of antisense c-jun oligodeoxynucleotides(ODN) on matrix metalloproteinase(MMP) expression of fibroblasts induced by ultraviolet B (UVB). Methods The c-jun and c-fos protein expression induced by UVB were measured by Western blot. The mRNA expression of c-jun was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after transfection with c-jun antisense ODN. The pro-MMP-1 and MMP-3 synthesis of fibroblasts was measured by ELISA after treatment with UVB and antisense c-jun ODN. Results The UVB-induced c-jun protein expression of fibroblasts increased to 1.8, 2.6, 3.3 times compared with that of non-irradiated controls,while there was no significant change in c-fos protein expression. The pro-MMP-1 and MMP-3 synthesis induced by UVB irradiation increased obviously. After transfection with different concentrations of c-jun antisense ODN, the UVB-induced c-jun mRNA expression could be significantly inhibited(P<0.01), and so was the pro-MMP-1 and MMP-3 synthesis(P<0.01). Conclusions UVB-induced pro-MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression can be mediated by c-jun, and the synthesis of pro-MMP-1 and MMP-3 may be inhibited by antisense c-jun ODN.

Key words: Ultraviolet rays, Fibroblasts, Genes, jun, Genes, fos, Matrix metalloproteinases