Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 mRNAs in patients with primary hypertension or hypertension-induced atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) affect degradation of vascular elastin, collagen remodelling and formation of atherosclerotic plaque. This cross-sectional study investigated the levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNAs  in the blood of patients with primary hypertension with and without hypertension-induced carotid atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Hypertensive patients with and without atherosclerosis and age- and gender-matched normotensive subjects were enrolled. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA were quantified using real-time  reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Hypertensive patients (n = 86) had significantly lower levels of TIMP-1 mRNA than normotensive subjects (n = 43). Hypertensive patients with atherosclerosis (n = 42) showed significantly elevated levels of  MMP-9 mRNA compared with both normotensive subjects and hypertensive patients without atherosclerosis (n = 44).


CONCLUSIONS
Primary hypertension resulted in decreased TIMP-1 mRNA levels, suggesting a potential mechanism contributing to the degradation of elastin. Hypertension-induced  atherosclerosis was associated with significantly increased levels of MMP-9 mRNA, which may enhance both the deposition of types I and III collagen and atherosclerotic plaque formation.
Department of Cardiology, Wuxi Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 33 Houxixi Road, Wuxi City, Jiangshu Province 214001, China. suwei2@medmail.com.cn
W
W
Su
F
F
Gao
J
J
Lu
W
W
Wu
G
G
Zhou
S
S
Lu
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9