title: Increase in the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase-9 to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in saliva from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS), patients and healthy subjects MMP-2, 9 and TIMP-1, 2 levels were measured in saliva.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stimulated whole-mixed saliva was collected from 32 patients and 26 healthy subjects. MMP-2, 9 and TIMP-1, 2 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the sandwich enzyme immunoassay (sandwich EIA). Zymography and reverse zymography were used to identify MMPs and TIMPs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-9 (gelatinase-B) level in saliva was significantly increased in the patients. MMP-9 (ng/ml): patients 231.02 +/- 151.77 (mean +/- S.D.), healthy subjects 145.87 +/- 111.65 (p < 0.05). MMP-2 levels were not detected with this system kit in either healthy subjects or patients. The differences in TIMPs were only trends and not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Accordingly, MMP-9/TIMP-1 was greatly increased in the patients (2.60 +/- 1.18) than in the healthy subjects (1.28 +/- 1.11) (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that MMP-9/TIMP-1 and MMP-9 levels in the saliva were significantly higher in pSS patients than those in healthy subjects. Our results indicate that the increase in MMP-9/TIMP-1, rather than the increase in MMP-9, in pSS patients' saliva is strongly involved in destruction of glandular and salivary duct tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biological Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Gakkocho dori 2-5274, Niigata City, Niigata 951-8514 Japan.
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asatsuma
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeishi
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Fumitake
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gejyo
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Igarashi
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9