title: Excessive matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the plasma of community-acquired pneumonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been shown that matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is involved in the pathogenesis of various pulmonary inflammatory diseases. We determined the MMP-9 concentration in the plasma of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients before and after antibiotic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gelatin zymography and ELISA analysis were used to measure MMP-9 activity and MMP-9 level, respectively, in 35 control subjects and 46 CAP patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WBC counts, neutrophils, MMP-9 activity and MMP-9 level were significantly higher in CAP patients compared with that of control subjects (P<0.001), while MMP-9 activity and MMP-9 level were returned to normal after the antibiotic treatment (P<0.001). In addition, MMP-9 level correlated positively with WBC counts and neutrophils number both before and after the antibiotic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-9 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CAP with a positive correlation with the number of neutrophils.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shun-Fa
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: I-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Wen-Fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Fen-Pi
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Wu-Hsien
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Yih-Shou
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9