title: MMP-12 and TIMP Behavior in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Critical Carotid Artery Stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic critical carotid artery stenosis (CAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 10 patients affected by symptomatic CAS within 12 hours from onset of stroke (S group) and 30 patients with asymptomatic CAS (CAS group); 31 patients matched for age, sex, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors were used as controls (RF group). Serum levels of MMP-12, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 were assessed by Luminex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-12 levels were significantly higher both in the S and CAS groups than in the RF group (P < .001). We found a significant decrease of all TIMPs in the CAS group compared with the RF group, whereas a significant increase was observed in the S group compared with the CAS group. A significant increase of TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 levels was observed in the S group compared with all other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-12 is related to critical CAS both symptomatic and asymptomatic, being mainly released in the late stage of plaque development. Moreover, we suggest that a specific pattern of matrix degrading enzyme inhibitors arises during the early phases of stroke.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Facoltà di Medicina e Psicologia, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Rome, Italy; UOC Medicina 3. Electronic address: flavia.delporto@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Porto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Facoltà di Medicina e Psicologia, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cifani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Facoltà di Medicina e Psicologia, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Rome, Italy; UOC Medicina 3.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Proietta
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Neurologia e Psichiatria, Facoltà di Medicina e Odontoiatria, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Toni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Facoltà di Medicina e Psicologia, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Rome, Italy; UOC di Chirurgia Vascolare, Ospedale Sant'Andrea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taurino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053508:Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000097:blood*; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 / Q000097:blood*; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000097:blood*; D000097792:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-4
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053508:Matrix Metalloproteinase 12; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D000097792:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-4; C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; C560823:TIMP2 protein, human; C088390:TIMP3 protein, human; C507122:MMP12 protein, human
keywords: Critical carotid artery stenosis; MMP-12; TIMPs; stroke