title: Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-8 in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the arterial wall during atherogenesis. Collagens are the most abundant proteins in the ECM. MMP-8 is expressed by cells associated with the development of the atherosclerotic plaque. It cleaves collagen type I three times more potently than two other interstitial collagenases MMP-1 and MMP-13. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma MMP-8 values are associated with occurrence of carotid plaque (CP) and possible correlations with clinical and biochemical parameters in carotid atherosclerosis (CA) patients. Total plasma MMP-8 levels were quantified by ELISA in 63 patients with ultrasonographic evidence of CP presence and 12 controls. Plasma MMP-8 values were significantly higher in patients with CA compared with controls (median 23.36 ng/ml vs. 13.02 ng/ml, P<0.001) but they did not differ significantly according to gender, smoking and hypertensive status, associated diseases, and use of statins. Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between MMP-8 plasma values and C reactive protein (r=0.41, P=0.001), urea (r=0.50, P<0.001), aspartate transaminase (r=0.48, P=0.001), and creatinine levels (r=0.38, P=0.006). These results suggest association of MMP-8 plasma levels with occurrence of CP and correlation with certain biochemical markers.
authors.affiliation: Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Belgrade, Serbia. tamariska@vinca.rs
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Djurić
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zivković
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stanković
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolaković
authors.forename: Djole
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jekić
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Selaković
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alavantić
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014508:Urea; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8