title: Abnormal circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2, 3, and 9 and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) 1 and 2 in type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) compared to healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 54 patients with T2DM and 57 age and gender matched healthy adults as controls. MMPs 2 and 9 were analyzed by gelatin zymography and MMP-3 and TIMPs 1 and 2 by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For technical feasibility, MMPs 2 and 9 were expressed in pro forms. Pro-MMP-9 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), whereas TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in patients with T2DM compared to controls. The MMP-3/TIMP-1 and the MMP-3/TMP-2 ratios were significantly higher in T2DM patients than controls (p < 0.05). Fasting plasma glucose was inversely correlated with TIMP-1 (r = -0.412, p < 0.01) and TIMP-2 (r = -0.315, p < 0.001), but was not associated with MMPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study identified abnormalities in plasma markers for extracellular matrix metabolism in T2DM. The new parameters would constitute an effective approach to explore the complications of uncontrolled diabetes.
authors.affiliation: L99ES11 Research Laboratory and Department of Biochemistry, Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Yosra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zayani
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allal-Elasmi
authors.forename: Marie Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Wiem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zidi
authors.forename: Bochra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ftouhi
authors.forename: Moncef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.forename: Hedia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Slimane
authors.forename: Naziha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaabachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; C560823:TIMP2 protein, human; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases