Past studies have identified that a unique type of matrix metalloproteinase, the membrane-type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP), is increased within the left ventricle (LV) of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the cellular and molecular basis for this induction of MT1-MMP with DCM is unknown. LV myocardial biopsies from nonfailing, reference normal patients (defined as LV ejection fraction >50%, elective coronary bypass surgery, no perfusion defect at biopsy site, n = 6) and DCM patients (LV ejection fraction <20%, at transplant, n = 5) were used to establish fibroblast cultures (FIBROS). Confluent LV FIBROS from culture passages 2-5 were measured with respect to MT1-MMP mRNA and protein levels and the distribution of the MT1-MMP mRNA pool in ribosomal fractions. Total MT1-MMP mRNA within DCM FIBROS increased by over 140%, and MT1-MMP protein increased by over 190% from reference normal FIBROS (both P < 0.05). MT1-MMP mRNA in monosome fractions decreased by over twofold in DCM FIBROS compared with reference normal (P < 0.05) and remained lower in polyribosomal fractions (i.e., 15.7 +/- 5.2 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.6% in polysomal fraction 6, P < 0.05). These differences in DCM MT1-MMP FIBROS transcription and translation persisted throughout passages 2-5. The unique findings from this study demonstrated that elevated steady-state MT1-MMP mRNA and protein levels occurred in DCM FIBROS despite a decline in translational deficiency. These phenotypic changes in DCM fibroblasts may provide the basis for developing cell specific pharmacological targets for control of MT1-MMP expression.