The measurement of circulating matrix metalloproteinase-8 and its tissue inhibitor and their association with inflammatory mediators in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to investigate differences of matrix metalloproteinase-8 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in the peripheral blood of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its correlation with the widely accepted markers of inflammatory activity, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and white blood cell number.

METHODS

315 patients with ACS (165 unstable angina pectoris/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, 150 ST elevation myocardial infarction), 111 stable angina (SA) patients, and 296 control subjects were enrolled in the study. All biochemical analyses were carried out using a Hitachi 912 analyzer (Roche). Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) levels were determined in citrate plasma by ELISA methods. White blood cells (WBC) and fibrinogen were also determined.

RESULTS

The plasma concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-8, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and WBCs in patients with acute coronary syndrome were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.001). Strong positive associations were observed between MMP-8 and TIMP-1 (r = 0.328, p < 0.001), MMP-8 and CRP (r = 0.171, p < 0.001), MMP-8 and Fibrinogen (r = 0.267, p < 0.001), MMP-8 and WBC (r = 0.163, p < 0.01), TIMP-1 and CRP (r = 0.219, p < 0.01), TIMP-1 and fibrinogen (r = 0.226, p < 0.01), TIMP-1 and WBC (r = 0.094, p < 0.1). Other positive correlations were observed between CRP and fibrinogen, CRP and WBC and fibrinogen and WBC in the patients with ACS.

CONCLUSIONS

Observations suggest that ACS show an increase in both remodeling and inflammation markers. In addition, the strong relationship with MMP-8 and inflammatory mediators such as CRP, fibrinogen and WBC in ACS patients suggests that MMP-8 might be an additional marker and/or consequence of inflammatory components in ACS.