Metalloproteinase expression in carotid plaque and its correlation with plasma levels before and after carotid endarterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess baseline and follow-up plasma concentrations of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), MMP-2, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in patients undergoing carotid thromboendarterectomy (TEA) in relation to tissue expression and diagnostic features.


METHODS
Using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, plasma levels of enzymes were determined in 15 patients undergoing carotid TEA. Tissue sections were incubated with specific antibodies and fluorescence intensity was analyzed.


RESULTS
MMP-9 levels were higher in patients with carotid stenosis versus controls, significantly in those with cerebral lesions at neuroimaging. MMP-9 levels decreased in 93.4% of the patients at 1 month. MMP-2 levels tended to increase 30 days after surgery. TIMP-2 showed no difference.


CONCLUSIONS
High concentrations of MMP-9 found in patients with carotid stenosis and cerebral lesions suggest that MMP-9 assay could be useful in the evaluation of all carotid lesions to help identify those at highest risk of a neurologic event.
Taurino
Maurizio
M
U.O.C. Chirurgia Vascolare, S. Andrea Hospital, 2nd Medical School, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. maurizio.taurino@uniroma1.it
Raffa
Salvatore
S
Mastroddi
Massimo
M
Visco
Vincenzo
V
Rizzo
Luigi
L
Torrisi
Maria Rosaria
MR
Faraglia
Vittorio
V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9