title: Hydrocortisone supresses inflammatory activity of metalloproteinase-8 in carotid plaque.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Matrix metalloproteinases are inflammatory biomarkers involved in carotid plaque instability. Our objective was to analyze the inflammatory activity of plasma and carotid plaque MMP-8 and MMP-9 after intravenous administration of hydrocortisone.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 22 patients with stenosis ≥ 70% in the carotid artery (11 symptomatic and 11 asymptomatic) who underwent carotid endarterectomy. The patients were divided into two groups: Control Group - hydrocortisone was not administered, and Group 1 - 500 mg intravenous hydrocortisone was administered during anesthetic induction. Plasma levels of MMP-8 and MMP-9 were measured preoperatively (24 hours before carotid endarterectomy) and at 1 hour, 6 hours and 24 hours after carotid endarterectomy. In carotid plaque, tissue levels of MMP-8 and MMP-9 were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 showed increased serum levels of MMP- 8 (994.28 pg/ml and 408.54 pg/ml, respectively; P=0.045) and MMP-9 (106,656.34 and 42,807.69 respectively; P=0.014) at 1 hour after carotid endarterectomy compared to the control group. Symptomatic patients in Group 1 exhibited lower tissue concentration of MMP-8 in comparison to the control group (143.89 pg/ml and 1317.36 respectively; P=0.003). There was a correlation between preoperative MMP-9 levels and tissue concentrations of MMP-8 (P=0.042) and MMP-9 (P=0.019) between symptomatic patients in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hydrocortisone reduces the concentration of MMP- 8 in carotid plaque, especially in symptomatic patients. There was an association between systemic and tissue inflammation.
authors: Faculdade de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, BR.
authors: Sthefano Atique
authors: SA
authors: Gabriel
authors: Departamento de Citologia do Laboratório Central, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Antonangelo
authors: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors: Vera Luiza
authors: VL
authors: Capelozzi
authors: Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors: Camila Baumann
authors: CB
authors: Beteli
authors: Faculdade de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, BR.
authors: Otacílio de
authors: Od
authors: Camargo Júnior
authors: Faculdade de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, BR.
authors: José Luis Braga de
authors: JL
authors: Aquino
authors: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors: Roberto Augusto
authors: RA
authors: Caffaro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000601:surgery*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D006854:Hydrocortisone