Association Between MMPs And TIMPs Levels In Aqueous Humor And Plasma With Axial Length In Myopia Patients

PurposeThe present study aims to investigate the profile of MMPs and TIMPs in plasma(PL)and aqueous humor(AH)in myopia patients,whether there will be an association between these levels with their axial length(AL),in order to discover if matrix metalloproteinases are upregulated locally or systemically.Methods(1)39 patients diagnosed with myopia were classified into 3 groups according to their AL.AL were measure by IOL master.AH in both eyes and blood samples were collected before they underwent implantable collamer lens(ICL)surgery.(2)78samples of AH and 39 samples of PL were analyzed using Luminex x MAP platform.(3)Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the MMPs/TIMPs profile in 3groups and the association between MMPs/TIMPs and AL.Results(1)There were 8 patients(16 eyes)in Group A(AL ? 26mm),22 patients(44eyes)in Group B(26<AL ? 28mm),9 patients(18 eyes)in Group C(AL>28mm).(2)MMP-1(p = 0.014,? = 0.118),MMP-2(p = 0.000,? = 0.278),MMP-9(p = 0.000,? = 0.019),TIMP-1(p = 0.014,? = 0.062)in AH were positively associated with AL.In PL,MMP-1(p = 0.004,? = 0.001)and TIMP-1(p = 0.030,? = 1.171)concentrations linearly increased with longer axial length.(3)No concentration-dependent relationship was found between MMP-2 in plasma and AL.ConclusionThis study demonstrated a consistent relationship between MMP-2 in AH and AL.An association between MMP-1,MMP-9,TIMP-1 in AH and AL was also observed.However,their rather low concentration in AH should be considered.The axial length was not consistently or substantially affected by MMP-2 in plasma,indicating myopia formation is possibly a localized process.