Matrix Metalloproteinases Essay -- Biology, Science Experiments

Matrix metalloproteinases are members of a large family of enzymes that heap degrade extracellular matrix as well as other molecules 1. MMPs participate in a broad variety of normal and unhealthy states 2, and pick up been implicated as potential mediators of cardiac dilation and inwardness failure. Indeed, in culture cells 3,4, animal models mimicking the CHF syndrome 5,6 and CHF patients 7-9, a mechanistic relationship has been present respect to myocardial MMP view and left ventricular (LV) remodeling process 3-9. Likewise, novel reports on endothelial culture cells 10-12 and animal models of CHF 13,14 have shown that the increase of expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (called gelatinases) might also play an important role in the impairement of endothelial function, a key event contributing on unwholesomeness and mortality in CHF patients 15. However, data respect to the role of MMPs on endothelial dysfunction in the setting of human CHF is completely unknown. Ther efore, the aim of this psychoanalyze was to assess the association between the activity of gelatinases and endothelial dysfunction in patients with CHF. We hypothesized that a higher plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities correlate with a lower endothelial function in patients with CHF.We included CHF patients, NYHA functional class II-III controlled in a university clinical center. All patients signed an informed consent approved by our institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee. Inclusion criteria were left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ...esented here share new clinical test suggesting a possible participation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the genesis and progression of endothelial dysfunction, suggesting an active role of MMPs in this event. The main limitations of the present study were the confine number of patients, the presence of standard pharmacological therapy administered that may influence our results and such(prenominal) a correlations reported here did not demostr ate a cause-effect relationship, but in that respect is experimental evidence that could sustain our results. Further studies are clearly necessary to address this issue for exploring the causal relationships between these proteases and the pathophysiology of endothelial function.AcknowledgementsThe authors of this manuscript have certified that they comply with the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International daybook of Cardiology 20.