title: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 as potential biomarkers for gestational hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gestational hypertension (GH) is a common disorder during pregnancy that can progress to preeclampsia and cause various subsequent fatal complications. A cluster of enzymes, called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and its specific inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), have been reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of GH. The purpose of this study was to examine circulating levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in pregnant women who had GH and those who were normotensive.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case-control study, the total levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the sera of 108 pregnant patients were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. 54 patients with GH (test group) and 64 normotensive pregnant women (control group) were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While MMP-9 levels showed a high level of expression in the GH group (p = 0.085), TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels showed low levels of expression for the same. Weak positive correlations were found on correlation analysis between maternal age and TIMP-1 in the GH group (r = 0.278, p < 0.05), and between gestational age and TIMP-2 in the control group (r = 0.318, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that MMP-9 may be involved in the pathophysiology of GH. It may be of value to further evaluate MMP-9 as a potential biomarker for predicting preeclampsia in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. jabrullah.abh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jabrullah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ab Hamid
authors.forename: Norhafizah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohtarrudin
authors.forename: Malina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Andi Anggeriana
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Andi Asri
authors.forename: Wan Hamilton
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wan Hassan
authors.forename: Rohani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aziz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9