title: Influence of cardiovascular risk factors on levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in human abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of cardiovascular risk factors on levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9 in human abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Aortic samples were collected from patients who underwent AAA repair (n = 89). Patients were stratified according to the maximum transverse aorta diameter: small diameter (<55 mm), moderate diameter (55-69.9 mm) and large diameter (≥70 mm). Aortic walls were studied using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. MMP-2, MMP-9, α-actin, CD45, and CD68 transcript levels were determined relative to β-actin. Quantitative data were expressed as median (IQ-range).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were found in MMP-2 expression between the patient groups, which was mainly associated with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC); however, MMP-9 displayed the maximum level in the moderate-diameter group, associated with infiltrating macrophages. Current smoking (CS) and renal insufficiency (RI) significantly increased local levels of MMP-2 (CS 349.5 [219.5-414.1] vs. no-CS 184.4 [100.0-320.5]; p < .008; RI 286.8 [189.6-410.8] vs. no-RI 177.3 [99.3-326.9]; p = .047). Nevertheless, after stepwise linear regression analysis only CS remained as an independent variable predicting local levels of MMP-2 (p = .002). No risk factors influenced local levels of MMP-9.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that local levels of MMP-2, an important factor for AAA development, were increased in current smoking AAA patients. MMP-2 was mainly associated with VSMC. It is suggested that MMP-2 could contribute significantly to the increased AAA growth rate observed in current smoking patients. These findings support inclusion of smokers in screening for aneurysmal disease, and emphasize the need for more aggressive monitoring of aneurysmal disease outside the surgical range in patients who smoke at the time of diagnosis and in those who continue to smoke during follow-up.
authors: Angiology, Vascular Biology and Inflammation Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain; Vascular Surgery Department, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: J-F
authors: JF
authors: Dilmé
authors: Angiology, Vascular Biology and Inflammation Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain; Vascular Surgery Department, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bellmunt
authors: Angiology, Vascular Biology and Inflammation Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mcamacho@santpau.cat.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Camacho
authors: Autonomous University of Barcelona, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Solà-Villà
authors: Angiology, Vascular Biology and Inflammation Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain; Vascular Surgery Department, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: J-M
authors: JM
authors: Romero
authors: Angiology, Vascular Biology and Inflammation Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain; Vascular Surgery Department, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: J-R
authors: JR
authors: Escudero
authors: Angiology, Vascular Biology and Inflammation Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Research (II-B Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Vila
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D001706:Biopsy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysm; Cardiovascular risk factors; MMP-2; Tobacco smoking