title: MMP-2 Isoforms in Aortic Tissue and Serum of Patients with Ascending Aortic Aneurysms and Aortic Root Aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The need for biological markers of aortic wall stress and risk of rupture or dissection of ascending aortic aneurysms is obvious. To date, wall stress cannot be related to a certain biological marker. We analyzed aortic tissue and serum for the presence of different MMP-2 isoforms to find a connection between serum and tissue MMP-2 and to evaluate the potential of different MMP-2 isoforms as markers of high wall stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum and aortic tissue from n = 24 patients and serum from n = 19 healthy controls was analyzed by ELISA and gelatin zymography. 24 patients had ascending aortic aneurysms, 10 of them also had aortic root aneurysms. Three patients had normally functioning valves, 12 had regurgitation alone, eight had regurgitation and stenosis and one had only stenosis. Patients had bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves (9/15). Serum samples were taken preoperatively, and the aortic wall specimen collected during surgical aortic repair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pro-MMP-2 was identified in all serum and tissue samples. Pro-MMP-2 was detected in all tissue and serum samples from patients with ascending aortic/aortic root aneurysms, irrespective of valve morphology or other clinical parameters and in serum from healthy controls. We also identified active MMP-2 in all tissue samples from patients with ascending aortic/aortic root aneurysms. None of the analyzed serum samples revealed signals relatable to active MMP-2. No correlation between aortic tissue total MMP-2 or tissue pro-MMP-2 or tissue active MMP-2 and serum MMP-2 was found and tissue MMP-2/pro-MMP-2/active MMP-2 did not correlate with aortic diameter. This evidence shows that pro-MMP-2 is the predominant MMP-2 species in serum of patients and healthy individuals and in aneurysmatic aortic tissue, irrespective of aortic valve configuration. Active MMP-2 species are either not released into systemic circulation or not detectable in serum. There is no reliable connection between aortic tissue-and serum MMP-2 isoforms, nor any indication that pro-MMP-2 functions as a common marker of high aortic wall stress.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.|Working Group on Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology in Thoracic Aortic Disease, Dr. Barbara-Mez-Starck Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Tscheuschler
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.|Working Group on Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology in Thoracic Aortic Disease, Dr. Barbara-Mez-Starck Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Meffert
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Friedhelm
authors: F
authors: Beyersdorf
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.|Working Group on Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology in Thoracic Aortic Disease, Dr. Barbara-Mez-Starck Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Heilmann
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.|Working Group on Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology in Thoracic Aortic Disease, Dr. Barbara-Mez-Starck Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Nadja
authors: N
authors: Kocher
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.|Working Group on Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology in Thoracic Aortic Disease, Dr. Barbara-Mez-Starck Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Xenia
authors: X
authors: Uffelmann
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.|Working Group on Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology in Thoracic Aortic Disease, Dr. Barbara-Mez-Starck Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Discher
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Siepe
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.|Working Group on Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology in Thoracic Aortic Disease, Dr. Barbara-Mez-Starck Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Heart Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Fabian A
authors: FA
authors: Kari
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000378:metabolism*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism*; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2