MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their tissue inhibitor in preterm human milk.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of endopeptidases that play a key role in the degradation of the extracellular matrix. The natural inhibitors of MMPs are the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). It has been shown that several MMPs may be major factors in tissue destruction and remodeling in necrotizing enterocolitis. We designed the present prospective observational study to determine whether specific MMPs activity and expression of their inhibitors are similar in the milk fed to preterm and term infants.


METHODS
We compared specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and 1 MMP inhibitor (TIMP-1) activities or expression in human milk (HM) fed to 18 preterm infants and 13 full-term infants, obtained at 72 hours and 1 and 2 weeks postpartum.


RESULTS
MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were similar in both groups and did not vary over time. TIMP-1 was significantly higher in preterm HM. TIMP-1 expression increased significantly over time exclusively in the preterm group.


CONCLUSIONS
There are differences in the expression of TIMP-1 between colostrum and mature milk in preterm HM and differences in the expression of TIMP-1 between preterm and term milk.
Lubetzky
Ronit
R
Department of Pediatrics, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Mandel
Dror
D
Mimouni
Francis B
FB
Herman
Lea
L
Reich
Reuven
R
Reif
Shimon
S
D003126:Colostrum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9