Περίληψη:
Decreased levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) or excess levels of
their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) may contribute to dysregulation of
extracellular matrix turnover in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In a
cross-sectional study of 106 SSc patients, we measured serum levels of
TIMP-4 which is preferentially expressed in cardiovascular structures
and searched for correlations with simultaneously performed
echocardiography measurements of pulmonary artery systolic pressure
(PASP), myocardial performance, and pulmonary function tests. TIMP-4,
but not MMP-9, levels were significantly raised in patients with SSc
than controls. However, in the subgroup of patients with PASP
measurements lower to 40 mmHg (n = 69), TIMP-4 levels were comparable to
controls irrespective of the presence of diffuse or limited skin
involvement, or lung fibrosis. Individual PASP measurements suggestive
of pulmonary hypertension were associated with increased TIMP-4 serum
levels (P = .03), independently of age, extent of skin sclerosis, or
lung fibrosis, suggesting a cardiopulmonary vasculature-specific role of
TIMP-4 activation in SSc. Copyright (c) 2008 Gialafos J. Elias et al.
Συγγραφείς:
Elias, Gialafos J.
Ioannis, Moyssakis
Theodora, Psaltopoulou and
Dimitrios, Papadopoulos P.
Despoina, Perea
Kostantinos, Vlasis
and Charalampos, Kostopoulos
Vassilios, Votteas
Petros, Sfikakis
P.
