title: Sera and salivary matrix metalloproteinases are elevated in patients with vesiculoerosive disease: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral vesiculoerosive (VE) diseases, such as lichen planus and mucous membrane pemphigoid, are immune-mediated pathoses. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are elevated in oral lesional biopsy specimens of patients with VE disease. However, the systemic levels and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in this patient population are poorly understood. We performed a pilot study to determine whether the levels and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are elevated in the sera and saliva of patients with VE disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited patients with VE disease (n = 10) and healthy controls (n = 19). We collected sera and saliva and performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to measure MMP levels. We used gelatin zymography and Biotrak assays to determine enzyme activity. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the activity of either MMP in the sera or saliva of patients with VE disease compared with controls. Significantly, MMP-2 levels were elevated in the sera of patients with VE disease (P < .0001), whereas MMP-9 was elevated in their saliva (P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-2 is elevated in the sera of patients with VE disease, and MMP-9 is increased in their saliva. Therefore, these enzymes may be potential markers of disease or therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Yasmin H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Mair
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Department of Dental Medicine, North-Shore LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jhamb
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Department of Dental Medicine, North-Shore LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY, USA; Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address: Jkramer@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000201:enzymology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9