title: Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in patients with bipolar disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High cardiovascular mortality rates have been reported in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Studies indicate that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated the expression pattern of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in blood from patients with BD during acute mania and after euthymia, in comparison with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients and 20 controls were recruited and matched for sex and age. MMP messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression between patients and controls. mRNA levels were not significantly different during mania and euthymia. However, MMP-2 mRNA levels were negatively associated with BMI in BD patients and positively associated with BMI in controls. There was no difference in the pattern of MMP-9 expression between patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a different pattern of association between MMP-2 and BMI in BD patients as compared with controls. Despite some study limitations, we believe that the role of MMPs in BD should be further investigated to elucidate its relationship with cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Psychiatry Unit and National Science and Technology Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto AlegreRS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábria
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarani
authors.affiliation: Molecular Psychiatry Unit and National Science and Technology Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto AlegreRS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel Rodrigo
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Fries
authors.affiliation: Molecular Psychiatry Unit and National Science and Technology Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto AlegreRS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stertz
authors.affiliation: Molecular Psychiatry Unit and National Science and Technology Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto AlegreRS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Keila Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ceresér
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, UFRGS, Porto AlegreRS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela T S
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Wyse
authors.affiliation: Molecular Psychiatry Unit and National Science and Technology Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto AlegreRS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávio Pereira
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Kapczinski
authors.affiliation: Molecular Psychiatry Unit and National Science and Technology Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto AlegreRS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9