Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 improves endothelial function and prevents hypertension in insulin-resistant rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Insulin resistance is often found to be associated with high blood pressure. We propose that in insulin-resistant hypertension, endothelial dysfunction is the consequence of increased activity of vascular MMP-2. As MMP-2 proteolytically cleaves a number of extracellular matrix proteins, we hypothesized that MMP-2 impairs endothelial function by proteolytic degradation of endothelial NOS (eNOS) or its cofactor, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90).