Relationship between matrix metalloproteinases/tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases systems and autoantibody patterns in systemic sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by tissue fibrosis that reflects an imbalance between collagen production and degradation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endopeptidases involved in the remodelling of extracellular matrix (ECM). This activity is controlled by tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMPs). Aim of this study was the evaluation of MMP-9/TIMP-1 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 systems in patients with SSc.


METHODS
SearchLight Human MMP Array 1 was used to measure MMPs and TIMPs in 32 SSc patients and 32 matched healthy controls.


RESULTS
SSc patients showed higher values of both MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in comparison with controls. The patients with anticentromere antibodies (ACA) positivity showed higher values of MMPs and TIMPs in comparison with either controls or the patients with anti-Scl70-positive antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this investigation suggest that SSc patients with ACA positivity, after a primary fibrogenetic noxa, react with a more abundant release of MMP/TIMP, whereas patients with anti-Scl70 antibody show a normal response.
Montagnana
Martina
M
Sezione di Chimica e Microscopia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico G B Rossi, Piazzale Scuro, 10, Verona, Italy. martina.montagnana@med.lu.se
Volpe
Alessandro
A
Lippi
Giuseppe
G
Caramaschi
Paola
P
Salvagno
Gian Luca
GL
Biasi
Domenico
D
Bambara
Lisa Maria
LM
Guidi
Gian Cesare
GC
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9