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Elevated MMP‐7 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: correlation with pulmonary involvement
Author(s) -
Moinzadeh Pia,
Krieg Thomas,
Hellmich Martin,
Brinckmann Jürgen,
Neumann Elena,
MüllerLadner Ulf,
Kreuter Alexander,
Dumitrescu Daniel,
Rosenkranz Stephan,
Hunzelmann Nicolas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2011.01321.x
Subject(s) - dlco , medicine , fibrosis , pulmonary fibrosis , connective tissue disease , diffusing capacity , scleroderma (fungus) , lung , connective tissue , matrix metalloproteinase , systemic disease , pathology , systemic inflammation , extracellular matrix , gastroenterology , interstitial lung disease , autoimmune disease , immunopathology , inflammation , disease , lung function , biology , inoculation , microbiology and biotechnology
Background: Fibrosis is characterized by an excessive accumulation of connective tissue because of an imbalance between synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a prototypic chronic inflammatory disease leading to a severe fibrosis of the skin and many internal organs. Questions Addressed: We investigated whether serum MMP‐7 levels reflect the activity of the fibrotic reaction in systemic sclerosis. Experimental Design: Serum samples were obtained from 123 patients with systemic sclerosis. MMP‐serum levels of all patients with SSc were compared with age‐matched healthy controls. Results: Significantly increased median serum MMP‐7 levels were found in patients with SSc when compared with controls. The median MMP‐7 serum level of patients with lung fibrosis (LF) was significantly higher compared with those without LF. Accordingly, patients with dyspnea and DLCO (diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) levels below 60% showed significantly higher median MMP‐7 levels. Conclusions: Elevated MMP‐7 levels are associated with an advanced stage of SSc and LF. These data suggest that in SSc MMP‐7 is involved in the process of fibrotic tissue remodelling.