title: Imbalanced circulating matrix metalloproteinases in polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Altered levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may reflect relevant pathogenetic mechanisms of disease conditions. The objective of this study was to compare the plasma levels of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with those found in healthy ovulatory controls and to examine whether the levels of these biomarkers are associated with clinical and biochemical features of this syndrome. Sixty-five healthy ovulatory subjects (controls) and 80 patients with PCOS were include in this study. MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 concentrations were measured in plasma samples by gelatin zymography or enzyme-linked immunoassays. MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 levels were similar in PCOS patients and in healthy controls (P > 0.05). PCOS patients had lower plasma TIMP-2 levels than healthy controls (P < 0.05). We found higher MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in PCOS patients than in healthy controls (all P < 0.05). Testosterone levels correlated positively with the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio and negatively with TIMP-2 levels (r = 0.26, P < 0.01 and r = -0.21, P = 0.02, respectively). In addition, only testosterone was an independent predictor of TIMP-2 levels (estimate = -0.35, P = 0.04) and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio (estimate = 0.01, P = 0.04). We found evidence indicating that the balance between MMPs and TIMPs in women with PCOS is altered, probably due to androgen excess found in these women.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13081-970, Brazil.
authors: Valéria A
authors: VA
authors: Gomes
authors: Carolina S
authors: CS
authors: Vieira
authors: Anna L
authors: AL
authors: Jacob-Ferreira
authors: Vanessa A
authors: VA
authors: Belo
authors: Gustavo M
authors: GM
authors: Soares
authors: Janaína B F
authors: JB
authors: Fernandes
authors: Rui A
authors: RA
authors: Ferriani
authors: Jose E
authors: JE
authors: Tanus-Santos
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000097:blood; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000097:blood; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D013739:Testosterone; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9