Elevated circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases ... - Springer Link

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Jul 3, 2009 - mutations in the ABCC6 gene and characterized by ectopic calcification and extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations. Matrix metalloproteinases ...
J Mol Med (2009) 87:965–970 DOI 10.1007/s00109-009-0497-5

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Elevated circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in pseudoxanthoma elasticum patients Ulf Diekmann & Ralf Zarbock & Doris Hendig & Christiane Szliska & Knut Kleesiek & Christian Götting

Received: 6 May 2009 / Revised: 17 June 2009 / Accepted: 19 June 2009 / Published online: 3 July 2009 # Springer-Verlag 2009

Abstract Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare disorder predominantly affecting the skin, the eyes, and the cardiovascular system. The disease is caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene and characterized by ectopic calcification and extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pivotal role in the process of ECM remodeling. In the present study, we investigated matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in PXE patients compared to healthy controls. We analyzed the serum concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in a cohort of 69 German PXE patients and in 69 healthy, age-, and sex-matched control subjects using commercially available ELISA assays. We found elevated concentrations of both MMPs in the sera of PXE patients. MMP-2 levels were significantly higher in patients than controls (231± 5.89 vs 202±5.17 ng/ml, p=0.0002), as were MMP-9 levels (841±65.9 vs 350±30.8 ng/ml, p