title: Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 correlate with alanine aminotransferase and hepatitis C virus in blood donors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and -9) have been suggested to play an important role in hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis. The aims of this study were to determine the plasma levels of enzyme activities of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in healthy and deferred blood donors. The relationships between activities of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and the level of alanine aminotransferase and the status of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 51 healthy volunteer blood donors and 175 deferred blood donors. Of the deferred donors, 54 donors had levels of alanine aminotransferase > or = 45 IU/L, 99 donors were positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, and 32 donors were positive for antibodies against hepatitis C virus. Activities of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 were measured by zymography using impregnated gel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in deferred blood donors with elevated ALT was higher than that in healthy donors (331 +/- 139 vs. 266 +/- 122, p < 0.001). Further, activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 was higher in HCV-infected donors than in healthy donors (319 +/- 97 vs. 275 +/- 133, p < 0.05). Matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity was also higher in deferred donors with HCV infection than in healthy donors (153 +/- 45 vs. 108 +/- 48, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that hepatitis C virus infection may upregulate the activities of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and that these matrix metalloproteinases may be linked to liver dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Guan-Chin
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Yen-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hsuan-Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fu-Hui
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lan-Ru
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9