The accumulation of extracellular matrix in the glomerular mesangium reflects the net balance between the synthesis and degradation of matrix components. We have shown that estradiol suppresses the synthesis of types I and IV collagen by cultured mesangial cells (Kwan G, Neugarten J, Sherman M, Ding Q, Fotadar U, Lei J, and Silbiger S. Kidney Int 50: 1173-1179, 1996; Neugarten J, Acharya A, Lei J, and Silbiger S. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 279: F309-F318, 2000; Neugarten J, Medve I, Lei J, and Silbiger SR. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 277: F1-F8, 1999; Neugarten J and Silbiger S. Am J Kidney Dis 26: 147-151, 1995; Silbiger S, Lei J, and Neugarten J. Kidney Int 55: 1268-1276, 1998; Silbiger S, Lei J, Ziyadeh FN, and Neugarten J. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 274: F1113-F1118, 1998). In the present study, we evaluated the effects of sex hormones on the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in murine mesangial cells, the synthesis of which is regulated by the transcription factor activator protein-2 (AP-2). Estradiol stimulated MMP-2 activity by increasing MMP-2 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. These effects occurred at physiological concentrations of estradiol and were receptor mediated. Estradiol also increased AP-2 protein levels and increased binding of mesangial cell nuclear extracts to an AP-2 consensus binding sequence oligonucleotide. The ability of estradiol to increase AP-2 protein expression, AP-2/DNA binding activity, MMP-2 protein expression, and metalloproteinase activity was reversed by PD-98059, a selective inhibitor of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling cascade. We conclude that estradiol upregulates the MAPK cascade, which in turn stimulates the synthesis of AP-2 protein. The resultant increased AP-2/DNA binding activity leads to increased synthesis of MMP-2 and increased metalloproteinase activity. Stimulation of metalloproteinase activity by estradiol may contribute to the protective effect of female gender on renal disease progression.