Journal
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
Volume 360, Issue 1-2, Pages 393-399Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11010-011-1079-8
Keywords
Matrix metalloproteinases; Nitric oxide; Nitrites; Zymography
Categories
Funding
- Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico
- Coordenadoria de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Deficient formation of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) contributes to cardiovascular diseases, and this may be associated with increased circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), as previously shown in white subjects. Because interethnic differences exist with respect to risk factors, prevalence, and severity of cardiovascular diseases, we designed this study to examine whether the circulating levels of nitrites (a marker of endogenous NO formation) are associated with the plasma levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in healthy black subjects. We studied 198 healthy subjects self-reported as blacks not taking any medications. Venous blood samples were collected and plasma and whole blood nitrite levels were measured using an ozone-based chemiluminescence assay. Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were determined by gelatin zymography. We found a positive correlation between plasma MMP-9 and MMP-2 levels (P < 0.0001, rs = 0.556). Interestingly, we found a negative relationship between the plasma MMP-9 levels and the plasma or whole blood nitrites levels (P = 0.04, rs = -0.149; and P < 0.0001, rs = -0.349, respectively). In parallel, we found similar negative relationships between plasma MMP-2 levels and plasma or whole blood nitrites levels (P = 0.02, rs = -0.172; and P < 0.0001, rs = -0.454, respectively). This is the first study to show that endogenous nitric oxide formation correlates negatively with the circulating levels of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 in black subjects. Our findings suggest a mechanistic link between deficient NO formation and increased MMPs levels, which may promote cardiovascular diseases.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available