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- Title
Circulating Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Elevated Pulmonary Arterial Pressure.
- Authors
Gialafos, Elias J.; Moyssakis, Ioannis; Psaltopoulou, Theodora; Papadopoulos, Dimitrios P.; Perea, Despoina; Vlasis, Kostantinos; Kostopoulos, Charalampos; Votteas, Vassilios; Sfikakis, Petros P.
- Abstract
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.
- Publication
Mediators of Inflammation, 2008, Vol 2008, Issue 2, p1
- ISSN
0962-9351
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1155/2008/164134