Matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression is associated with the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in atherosclerotic plaques.


METHODS
31 coronary atherosclerotic plaque specimens were studied by immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and reverse transcription PCR for the presence of C pneumoniae antigen and genomic DNA, and of MMP-9 protein and transcripts.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical analysis identified a strong association between the presence of C pneumoniae antigen and production of MMP-9 in coronary atherosclerotic plaques (p = 0.001). Furthermore, analysis of the intralesional amount of C pneumoniae and MMP-9 indicated an increased number of cells positive for MMP-9 in arterial sections that had increased C pneumoniae positivity (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence of an association between expression of MMP-9 and the intravascular presence of C pneumoniae and may suggest a potential pathological mechanism whereby C pneumoniae may contribute to the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.
Arno
G
G
Department of Cardiological Sciences, St Georges Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK. garno@sghms.ac.uk
Kaski
J C
JC
Smith
D A
DA
Akiyu
J P
JP
Hughes
S E
SE
Baboonian
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9