title: Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9, a risk factor for acute coronary syndrome, are reduced independently of serum MMP-3 by anti-TNF-α antibody (infliximab) therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a risk factor for cardiovascular events. The serum MMP-9 levels were measured before and 2 weeks after treatment with infliximab (3 mg/kg) in 12 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The serum average MMP-9 level was 238.5 ng/ml before treatment with infliximab in RA patients (normal range: less than 43.8 ng/ml). Infliximab reduced the serum average MMP-9 level significantly (161.66 ng/ml, P = 0.0425). The serum MMP-9 level was high in the RA patients with active disease, and it was reduced by infliximab independently of the reduction in disease activity. Thus, infliximab may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events directly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (I), Osaka Medical College, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Shuzo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wakura
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isoda
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanafusa
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9