title: Therapy of psoriasis with narrowband ultraviolet-B light influences plasma concentrations of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which show a significant ability to cleave the components of extracellular matrix, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which slow down the activity of those enzymes, may be implicated in the pathogenesis and spread of psoriatic disease. This study aims to analyze plasma levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in plaque psoriasis patients before and after the course of narrowband ultraviolet-B (NBUVB) therapy with respect to disease advancement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 49 patients suffering from plaque psoriasis and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled into the study. Plasma levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to define the disease advancement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed increased plasma levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2, but this change was significant only in case of MMP-2 in total psoriatic group compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, there was an increase in the concentrations of chosen factors with an increase in the severity of the disease. The NBUVB therapy causes a decline in the concentration of the analyzed enzyme and its inhibitor, although this change was statistically significant in the total psoriatic group only in case of MMP-2. There was also a positive correlation between MMP-2, TIMP-2, and PASI score value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study highlights a possible important role of MMP-2 in the activity of psoriasis and clearance of disease symptoms. Moreover, plasma MMP-2 seems to be a valuable psoriasis biomarker.
authors: Department of Esthetic Medicine.
authors: Edyta Katarzyna
authors: EK
authors: Głażewska
authors: Department of Esthetic Medicine.
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Niczyporuk
authors: Department of Biochemical Diagnostics.
authors: Sławomir
authors: S
authors: Ławicki
authors: Department of Biochemical Diagnostics.
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Szmitkowski
authors: Department of Biochemical Diagnostics.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Zajkowska
authors: Department of Haematological Diagnostics, Medical University, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Grażyna Ewa
authors: GE
authors: Będkowska
authors: Department of Esthetic Medicine.
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Przylipiak
keywords: NBUVB therapy; gelatinase A; matrix metalloproteinases; tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases