Distinct Populations of Stromal Cells Express Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) and Collagenase-1 (MMP-1) in Chronic Ulcers but Not in Normally Healing Wounds

Proteolysis is an intrinsic component of cutaneous wound repair and several matrix metalloproteinases have been shown to participate in various stages of this process. Therefore, we investigated the expression of a novel metalloproteinase, collagenase-3 (MMP-13), in normally healing cutaneous wounds and chronic venous ulcers. MMP-13 was expressed abundantly by fibroblasts deep in the chronic ulcer bed but was not detected in epidermis and all...