title: Reference intervals of plasma matrix metalloproteinases 2, 3, and 9 and serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to verify the reference intervals of plasma matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2, 3, and 9 and serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in a healthy population with an average age corresponding to that of patients with cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 180 healthy volunteers. Plasma MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, and serum ADMA levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These levels were analyzed for association with age and gender. The Cbstat5, R software, and NCSS 2007 programs were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average volunteer age was 47.4 years in the group in which MMP-3 and ADMA were analyzed, 40.3 years in the MMP-9 group, and 47.8 years for the MMP-2 group. Serum ADMA levels were determined to be independent of age and gender. Plasma MMP-2 levels were significantly correlated with age (p = 0.001), with lower levels detected in persons ≤ 49 years of age. Plasma MMP-3 was significantly associated with both age (p < 0.0001) and gender, with lower levels detected in persons of ≤ 47 years of age and among women. Plasma MMP-9 levels were not age dependent, but were associated with gender (p = 0.014), showing lower levels in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reference intervals of heparin-plasma MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 and serum ADMA levels were determined. MMP-2 and MMP-3 levels were found to be age dependent, and MMP-3 and MMP-9 levels were gender dependent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava.
authors.forename: Pavlina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kusnierova
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vsiansky
authors.forename: Leos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pleva
authors.forename: Pavlina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Plevova
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Safarcik
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Svagera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; C511768:MMP3 protein, human; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Adult; age dependence; atherosclerosis; cardiovascular diseases; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; gender dependence