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Ratios of activated matrix metalloproteinase‐9 to tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase‐1 in wound fluids are inversely correlated with healing of pressure ulcers
Author(s) -
LADWIG GLENN P.,
ROBSON MARTIN C.,
LIU RAN,
KUHN M. ANN,
MUIR DAVID F.,
SCHULTZ GREGORY S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1046/j.1524-475x.2002.10903.x
Subject(s) - matrix metalloproteinase , wound healing , medicine , tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase , extracellular matrix , inflammation , chronic wound , matrix (chemical analysis) , gastroenterology , pathology , surgery , chemistry , biochemistry , chromatography
Previous analyses of fluids collected from chronic, nonhealing wounds found elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, elevated levels of proteinases, and low levels of growth factor activity compared with fluids collected from acute, healing wounds. This led to the general hypothesis that chronic inflammation in acute wounds produces elevated levels of proteinases that destroy essential growth factors, receptors, and extracellular matrix proteins, which ultimately prevent wounds from healing. To test this hypothesis further, pro‐ and activated matrix metalloproteinases (MMP‐2 and MMP‐9), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2), and the ratios of MMPs/TIMPs were assayed in fluids and biopsies collected from 56 patients with chronic pressure ulcers. Specimens included ulcers treated for 0, 10, and 36 days with conventional therapy or with exogenous cytokine therapies. Quantitative assay data were correlated with the amount of healing. The average MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratio in fluids from 56 ulcers decreased significantly as the chronic pressure ulcers healed. Furthermore, the average MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratio was significantly lower for fluids collected on day 0 from wounds that ultimately healed well (≥85% reduction in initial wound volume) compared with wounds that healed poorly (<50% wound volume reduction). These data show that the ratio of MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 levels is a predictor of healing in pressure ulcers and they provide additional support for the hypothesis that high levels of MMP activity and low levels of MMP inhibitor impair wound healing in chronic pressure ulcers.