The miRNeasy isolation kit and QuantiNova SYBR Green PCR mix were purchased from Qiagen (Valencia, CA, USA). The RNA to cDNA conversion kit, SuperScript First-Strand synthesis system or RT2 First Strand Kit was obtained from Life Technologies (Carlsbad, CA, USA) or Qiagen. Running buffer, transfer buffer, NuPage 4% to 12% Bis-Tris gels, and Invitrolon polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes (0.45 μm) were procured from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA), while the blocking buffer was from Li-Cor Biosciences (Lincoln, NE, USA). All reagents for zymography were purchased from Life Technologies. Phenol red–impregnated cotton threads were obtained from Zone-Quick, Lacrimedics (Eastsound, WA, USA). Antigen retrieval solution and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) were from Vector Laboratories (Burlingame, CA, USA), whereas the donkey serum was purchased from Jackson ImmunoResearch (Westgrove, PA, USA). The following primary antibodies were used: mouse monoclonal antibody against MMP-2 (1:100; Abcam, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA); rabbit polyclonal antibody against MMP-9 for immunofluorescence (1:100; NeoBioLab, Inc., Woburn, MA, USA); goat polyclonal antibody against MMP-9 for Western blotting (sc-6841; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA); rat monoclonal antibody against heparan sulfate proteoglycan (clone A7L6, 1:400; Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA); and mouse monoclonal antibody against glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (1:1000; Abcam, Inc.). Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)- or tetramethylrhodamine (TRITC)-conjugated secondary antibodies (1:100; Jackson ImmunoResearch) were used for immunodetection.