RESEARCH - Serum MMP and TIMP in patients with early RA

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J Rheumatol. 2006 Aug;33(8):1523-9. RA

Serum matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases

in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Fiedorczyk M, Klimiuk PA, Sierakowski S, Gindzienska-Sieskiewicz E, Chwiecko

J.

From the Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases, Medical

University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze serum concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases

(MMP) MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP) TIMP-1

and TIMP-2, and MMP/TIMP ratios in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

(RA) before and after 6 months of treatment with methotrexate (MTX).

METHODS: The study group consisted of 30 patients with RA, not treated with

disease modifying antirheumatic drugs or corticosteroids, with disease

duration < 3 years. Twenty patients with osteoarthritis (OA) served as a

control group. Analysis of serum concentrations of MMP and TIMP was based on

a quantitative sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of MMP-1,

MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-13 were higher in untreated patients with early RA

than in OA patients (p < 0.001 in all cases). Serum levels of TIMP-1 and

TIMP-2 dominated in the serum of RA patients compared with controls (p <

0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Ratios of MMP to TIMP were significantly

higher in patients with early RA versus controls. Six months' treatment with

MTX downregulated serum concentrations of MMP-1 (p < 0.001), MMP-3 (p <

0.001), MMP-9 (p < 0.001), MMP-13 (p < 0.01), and TIMP-1 (p < 0.05) in

patients with RA. These changes were accompanied by significantly reduced

ratios of MMP to TIMP. MTX treatment decreased markers of RA activity such

as the number of painful and swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate,

Disease Activity Score, and C-reactive protein.

CONCLUSION: Patients with early RA are characterized by high serum

concentrations of tissue-degrading metalloproteinases. Therapy with MTX

resulted in clinical improvement and reduced serum MMP levels in patients

with RA, confirming effectiveness of MTX in patients in early stages of the

disease.

PMID: 16881109

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

6881109

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