Increased circulatory MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and activities in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology. It has been suggested that metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in the development and complications of autoimmune disorders. This article presents our research on the expression or activities of MMPs in Taiwanese T1DM patients.


METHODS
Levels and activities of plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with T1DM were investigated and compared to those of control individuals by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and zymography.


RESULTS
Circulatory levels and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with T1DM were significantly higher than those in control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
MMP expression and activities are significantly increased in patients with T1DM. Our results not only document plasma MMPs levels and activities in the Taiwanese population (with a very low type 1 diabetic incidence), but also suggest that MMP expression and activity are elevated before the onset of complications in diabetic patients.
Shiau
Ming-Yuh
MY
Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Tsai
Shih-Tzer
ST
Tsai
Kan-Jen
KJ
Haung
Ming-Lih
ML
Hsu
Yi-Ting
YT
Chang
Yih-Hsin
YH
D000293:Adolescent; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000201:enzymology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9