title: Association between circulating matrix metalloproteinase levels and coronary plaque regression after acute coronary syndrome--subanalysis of the JAPAN-ACS study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in development of atherosclerosis. MMPs are activated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, little data exist regarding the correlation between circulating levels of MMPs and plaque volume (PV) in patients with ACS. We therefore evaluated the impact of MMPs on coronary PV as a post hoc analysis from the JAPAN-ACS study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The multicenter JAPAN-ACS trial revealed that aggressive statin therapy for patients with ACS significantly reduces coronary PV determined by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). We studied 248 ACS patients who had serial IVUS examinations over 8-12 months in the trial. For each patient, MMP-1, 2, and 3 were measured both at baseline and at study end to evaluate the correlation between the percent change of PV and MMP levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-3 levels were significantly decreased during the follow-up period (100 ng/mL to 73 ng/mL, p < 0.001), in contrast, MMP-1, -2 levels were significantly increased. MMP-3 levels at follow-up correlated with coronary plaque regression (p for trend = 0.016). A multivariable linear regression model showed both MMP-2 and MMP-3 levels at follow-up were independent variables for change of coronary PV (p = 0.038 and p = 0.016, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating MMPs levels are associated with changes in coronary plaque volume determined by serial IVUS in patients with ACS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogita
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daida
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiro
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamagishi
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Masunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D011804:Quinolines; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; C108475:pitavastatin