title: Elevated concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-12 and elastin degradation products in the sera of pregnant women infected with Toxoplasma gondii.
abstract: Although the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) appears to be increased in most inflammatory diseases, the role of this enzyme in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women, if any, is unknown. In a recent study in Taiwan, the serum concentrations of MMP-12 and its substrate elastin were evaluated in pregnant women with Toxoplasma gondii infection. Compared with the healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women used as controls, the pregnant women with toxoplasmosis had significantly higher serum concentrations of MMP-12 and significantly higher levels of elastin synthesis and degradation. Interaction between MMP-12 and elastin in the serum samples was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. It seems possible that MMP-12 may contribute to elastin degradation occurring during the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135 Nanhsiao Street, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors.forename: P-H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: S-C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D004549:Elastin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D053508:Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D004549:Elastin; D053508:Matrix Metalloproteinase 12