title: Evaluation of gelatinases, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2, and myeloperoxidase protein in healthy and inflamed human dental pulp tissue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the gelatinolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and the expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 and myeloperoxidase protein (MPO) in clinically healthy human pulp and inflamed pulp tissue specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty dental pulps clinically diagnosed as inflammatory tissues and 20 healthy pulp tissues from enclosed third molars were harvested and evaluated. The gelatinolytic activity for MMP-2 and MMP-9 was assessed by using the zymography technique, TIMP-2 gene expression was evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and MPO was determined using the MPO assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data showed increased levels of MMP-9, active MMP-2, TIMP-2, and MPO in inflammatory pulp tissues compared with healthy tissues (P < .05). No statistical difference could be observed for pro-MMP-2 (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although all samples were associated with MMP-2 expression, the active form of this MMP was observed only in inflamed pulps. Inflamed pulps showed an up-regulation of MMP-9, TIMP-2, and MPO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Grande Rio University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Accorsi-Mendonça
authors.forename: Emmanuel João Nogueira Leal
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Andrea Márcia
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marcaccini
authors.forename: Rachel Fernanda
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.forename: Keila Maria Roncato
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Ana Paula Souza
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: Sérgio Roberto Peres
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Line
authors.forename: Alexandre Augusto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zaia
mesh_terms: D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000201:enzymology*; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000201:enzymology; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000201:enzymology*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C560823:TIMP2 protein, human; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D009195:Peroxidase; D018093:Gelatinases; C069860:progelatinase; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9