Lower serum concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-3 in the acute stage of myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
The importance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the progression and rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque is gaining increasing recognition but the mechanisms are not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of MMP-3 in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI) and the influence of the -1612 5A/6A MMP-3 gene promoter polymorphism on serum MMP-3 concentration.


METHODS
One-hundred and sixty-four patients admitted with ST-elevation MI and receiving thrombolysis treatment were included in this study. Serum MMP-3 was analysed at admission, after 48 h and at 3 months.


RESULTS
Serum MMP-3 concentration was significantly increased at 3 months when compared with admission and 48 h (19.5 ng mL(-1) [14.4-24.7] vs. 15.5 ng mL(-1) [10.5-21.8] at admission, P < 0.001; and 14.7 ng mL(-1) [9.9-23.8] at 48 h, P < 0.001). Furthermore, we found the -1612 5A/6A polymorphism to influence the serum concentration of MMP-3 at all time-points: 14.1 ng mL(-1) [10.2-18.8] in 5A/5A; 19.6 ng mL(-1) [15.0-24.4] in 5A/6A; and 24.0 ng mL(-1) [20.1-32.3] in 6A/6A genotype at 3 months (P < 0.001 between all groups). Female patients had lower serum MMP-3 concentration than male patients at all time-points (14.8 ng mL(-1) [9.4-20.8] vs. 19.9 ng mL(-1) [16.0-26.9], P < 0.0001 at 3 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum concentration of MMP-3 is significantly lower in the acute stage of MI than during recovery and is significantly influenced by -1612 5A/6A genotype and gender. Together with previous findings, these results primarily implicate MMP-3 in atherosclerosis progression rather than in acute MI.
Samnegård
A
A
Atherosclerosis Research Unit, King Gustaf V Research Institute, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. ann.samnegard@ki.se
Silveira
A
A
Tornvall
P
P
Hamsten
A
A
Ericsson
C-G
CG
Eriksson
P
P
D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012737:Sex Factors
D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3