Clinical Significance Of Plasma MMP-2 And TIMP-2 Measurement In Patients With Ulcerative Colitis

Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the relationship of levels of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2(TIMP-2) in patients with ulcer- ative colitis (UC) , and to identify whether or not MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expressed in plasma could be used as new,simple and useful biological parameters in diagnosing UC.Methods: Twenty-six patients with UC confirmed by colonoscopy and biopsy were enrolled in the study. Among these patients,11 were males and 15 were females with their age ranged from 18 to 76 years and averaged 45.7±17.0 years. There were 9 patients with pan-colonic lesions, 2 with hemi-colonic lesions, 11 with recto-sigmoidal lesions, and 4 with rectal-lesions. Based on the clinical manifestations and biopsy, 11 patients were classified into mild type,among these patients,6 were males and 5 were females with their averaged 43.4±16.5 years; 15 patients were classified into moderate to severe type, among these patients,6 were males and 9 were females with their averaged 47.1±14.8 years. Meanwhile, 18 normal subjects were selected as controls; 10 of them were males and 8 of them were females with their age ranged from 21 to 70 years and averaged 49.0±19.1 years. Venous blood samples were collected from the UC groups and control groups. ELISA assay was used to measure their plasma levels.Statistical analysis was carried out to investigate the correlations of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 between the UC groups and control groups and their relationships with the severity of clinical symptoms of the patients.Results: 1.The plasma level of MMP-2 was significantly higher in patients with UC than in normal controls (9.706±2.624 ng/ml VS 6.608±1.678 ng/ml,P < 0.05), but the plasma levels of TIMP-2 was found no significant difference between UC and control groups(6.13±2.317 ng/ml Vs 5.508±3.05 ng/ml,P>0.05);2.The plasma level of MMP-2 was higher in mild groups than that in controls(8.161±1.943 ng/ml Vs 6.608±1.678 ng/ml, P<0.05);the plasma level of MMP-2 was higher in moderate to severe groups than that in mild and control groups(11.030±2.441 ng/ml Vs 8.161±1.943 ng/ml Vs 6.608±1.678 ng/ml,P<0.05);But that of TIMP-2 wasn't(6.374±2.009 ng/ml Vs 5.920±2.608 ng/ml Vs 5.509±3.052 ng/ml,P>0.05).3.Plasma level of MMP-2 was positively correlated with the severity of the disease(r=0.692,P = 0.000<0.05), but that of TIMP-2 and MMP-2/ TIMP-2 weren't(P>0.05).Conclusion: Plasma level of MMP-2 is correlated with the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with UC; MMP-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis;Plasma MMP-2 could be considered as a simple biological parameter for the severity and clinical diagnosis of UC.