title: Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 are increased in plasma of patients with heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Progression of heart failure is associated with interstitial changes in the heart and in areas distant from the heart. Enhanced expression of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and of metalloproteinases tissue inhibitors 1 and 2 have been found in ventricular tissue of patients with heart failure. Our aim was to determine whether increased activity of metalloproteinase-2, metalloproteinase-9 and of metalloproteinases tissue inhibitor-1 and metalloproteinases tissue inhibitor-2 were also present in plasma of patients with heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of metalloproteinase-2, metalloproteinase-9 and of metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor-1 and metalloproteinases tissue inhibitor-2 were measured in venous blood of 51 patients with heart failure, and were compared with levels of 52 control subjects. Samples collected from patients and control subjects were assayed for gelatinolytic activity (zymography) and for protein levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control subjects, the patients with heart failure had a significant increase in activity levels (mean +/- SE, ng mL(-1)) of prometalloproteinase-9 (95.1+/-11.2 and 38.9+/-4.5*), activ. metalloproteinase-9 (18.4+/-2.5 and 10.9+/-1.3*), and of prometalloproteinase-2 (571.4+/-26.1 and 456.8+/-21.1*) (respectively: patients and control subjects; *P<0.05). Metalloproteinases tissue inhibitor-1, but not metalloproteinases tissue inhibitor-2 protein values were higher in the patients. Among the patients, clinical status and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class did not correlate with the metalloproteinase concentrations. Positive correlations with left ventricular volumes, and negative correlations with lipid values were obtained for prometalloproteinase-2; positive correlations with total number of white cells and neutrophils were obtained for prometalloproteinase-9; and positive correlations with lactate dehydrogenase, serum fibrinogen, aspartate transaminases were found for activ. metalloproteinase-9.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regardless of the clinical phase of heart failure, elevated levels of activity and of circulating metalloproteinase protein levels suggest the presence of persistent extracellular remodeling in patients with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garibaldi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ubaldi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spallarossa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olivotti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossettin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barsotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghigliotti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000097:blood; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9