Effects of anticoagulants on the activity of gelatinases.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the best procedure for preanalytical blood collection in the determination of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 by testing the effects of anticoagulants on their activity.


METHODS
Active forms of both gelatinases were measured by specific activity assay systems in serum, plasma EDTA, plasma-heparin and plasma-citrate obtained from 20 healthy volunteers, as well as in a pooled serum sample before and after anticoagulant treatment.


RESULTS
: Active MMP-2 and MMP-9 mean concentrations were similar in serum and in plasma-citrate, higher in plasma EDTA than in serum, in plasma-heparin and in plasma-citrate, and lower in plasma-heparin than in serum and plasma-citrate. A similar trend was observed in untreated and treated pooled serum samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that MMP-2 and MMP-9 in their active forms are not released by platelets during blood clotting, whereas the use of calcium chelating anticoagulants can profoundly alter the activity of endogenous gelatinases. This suggests that the determination of active forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in serum samples represents a suitable procedure.
Castellazzi
Massimiliano
M
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Communication and Behaviour, Section of Neurology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara I-44100, Italy. massimiliano.castellazzi@unife.it
Tamborino
Carmine
C
Fainardi
Enrico
E
Manfrinato
Maria C
MC
Granieri
Enrico
E
Dallocchio
Franco
F
Bellini
Tiziana
T
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D010949:Plasma / Q000378:metabolism; D044967:Serum / Q000378:metabolism
D000925:Anticoagulants; D002951:Citrates; D019343:Citric Acid; D006493:Heparin; D004492:Edetic Acid; D018093:Gelatinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9