title: Simvastatin could prevent increase of the serum MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in acute ischaemic stroke.
abstract: MMP-9 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AIS and predicts haemorrhagic transformation of the ischaemic focus. The aim of our study was to analyse both serum MMP-9 and its most specific endogenous inhibitor (TIMP-1) levels in AIS and to check whether HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (simvastatin) affects the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio value. Fifty patients with AIS were randomly divided into two groups: Group I (N = 25) treated with 40 mg/day with simvastatin within 24 hours after the onset of stroke and Group II (N = 25) non-treated with statin. To evaluate MMP-9 and TIMP-1 serum levels, the ELISA method was used. The serum MMP-9 level was significantly elevated on the 7th day of stroke in both groups (from 668 to 862 ng/ml and 670 to 855 ng/ml, respectively, in Group I and II). The serum TIMP-1 level was also elevated on the 7th day of stroke in both groups but the results were not significant. The MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was elevated on the 7th day of stroke in both groups, but the result was significant only in the Group II (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that simvastatin given during 24 hours after the onset of stroke could have an influence on the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio during AIS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland. kurzepa@onet.pl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurzepa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szczepanska-Szerej
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stryjecka-Zimmer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malecka-Massalska
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stelmasiak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019821:Simvastatin; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9