Increased levels of serum tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 but not metalloproteinase-3 in atopic dermatitis.
Matrix metalloproteinases and their specific inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), contribute to inflammation-induced tissue destruction and subsequent remodeling for maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Since the production of these enzymes and their inhibitors is regulated by mediators such as proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors, elevated levels of serum TIMPs and/or MMPs have been documented in patients with several inflammatory disorders. In this study, we examined the role of TIMPs and MMPs in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) by evaluating the serum levels of TIMP-1 and MMP-3 in 40 patients with AD and 20 control subjects by ELISA. The serum TIMP-1 levels were significantly higher in AD patients in exacerbation status than in nonatopic subjects, whereas serum MMP-3 levels were not significantly different between them. As a result, AD patients revealed significantly elevated TIMP-1/MMP-3 ratios. The levels of serum TIMP-1 were significantly reduced in AD patients following conventional treatments. Significantly higher values of peripheral eosinophil counts, serum levels of IgE and lactate dehydrogenase, eruption score, and eruption area were noted in the AD patients with elevated TIMP-1 levels when compared with those with normal values. Moreover, the points of chronic eruptions such as lichenification and prurigo were significantly higher in the patients with elevated TIMP-1 levels than those with normal TIMP-1, while those of acute lesions such as oozy/microvesicles and oedema were not different between these groups. Serum TIMP-1 level may be a useful marker to estimate the long-term disease activity of AD.
Katoh
N
N
Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. nkatoh@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Hirano
S
S
Suehiro
M
M
Ikenaga
K
K
Yasuno
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 / Q000097:blood*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015415:Biomarkers; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3; D007073:Immunoglobulin E