@article{3083194,
    title = "Plasma levels of active extracellular matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9
in patients with essential hypertension before and after anti
hypertensive treatment",
    author = "Zervoudaki, A and Economou, E and Stefanadis, C and Pitsavos, C and and Tsioufis, K and Aggeli, C and Vasiliadou, K and Toutouza, M and and Toutouzas, P",
    journal = "Journal of Human Hypertension",
    year = "2003",
    volume = "17",
    number = "2",
    pages = "119-124",
    publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
    issn = "0950-9240, 1476-5527",
    doi = "10.1038/sj.jhh.1001518",
    keywords = "metalloproteinases; extracellular matrix; vascular remodelling",
    abstract = "This study was designed to test the hypothesis that plasma
concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix
metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), two enzymes that share similar substrate
specificity (collagen type IV and V), possibly related to vascular
remodelling, are altered in essential hypertension. The second aim of
the study was to assess whether chronic antihypertensive treatment with
the calcium channel blocker amlodipine would normalize these
alterations. To test this hypothesis, we measured plasma concentrations
of active MMP-2 and MMP-9 in 42 patients with never-treated essential
hypertension and in 25 normotensive control subjects. Measurements were
repeated after 6 months of treatment with the calcium channel blocker
amlodipine. Baseline values of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were decreased (P=0.01
and 0.002, respectively) in hypertensive patients compared with
normotensives. Hypertensive patients with systemic vascular resistances
< 1440 dyn s/cm(5) exhibited higher values of MMP-2 (P=0.005) and MMP-9
(P=0.001) than hypertensive patients with systemic vascular resistances
> 1440 dyn s/cms. Treated patients attained a nonsignificant increase in
MMP-2 plasma concentrations, but a significant increase in MMP-9 plasma
concentrations (P=0.01) compared to respective values before treatment.
In conclusion, these findings suggest that plasma concentrations of
active MMP-2 and MMP-9, mainly related to vascular extracellular matrix
metabolism, are depressed in patients with essential hypertension. A 6
month treatment with amlodipine can normalize MMP-9 but not MMP-2 plasma
concentrations. The hypothesis that antihypertensive treatment may
modulate collagen metabolism remains to be determined by further
studies."
}