Journal
BIOMOLECULES
Volume 13, Issue 7, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/biom13071040
Keywords
matrix metalloproteinases; MMP-2; MMP-9; sCD163; sCD14; zymography; ELISA; computed tomography; pulmonary fibrosis; post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection; PASC
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The study aimed to evaluate the association between MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and chest radiological findings in COVID-19 patients. The results showed that COVID-19 patients had higher plasma levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 compared to healthy donors, and the ARDS group had higher levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 and the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 compared to the non-ARDS group. There was a positive correlation between TIMP-1 levels and chest CT scores. After three months of discharge, TIMP-1 levels decreased while MMP-9 levels increased.
Background: The aim of the study was to longitudinally evaluate the association between MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and chest radiological findings in COVID-19 patients. Methods: COVID-19 patients were evaluated based on their hospital admission (baseline) and three months after hospital discharge (T post) and were stratified into ARDS and non-ARDS groups. As a control group, healthy donors (HD) were enrolled. Results: At the baseline, compared to HD (n = 53), COVID-19 patients (n = 129) showed higher plasma levels of MMP-9 (p < 0.0001) and TIMP-1 (p < 0.0001) and the higher plasma activity of MMP-2 (p < 0.0001) and MMP-9 (p < 0.0001). In the ARDS group, higher plasma levels of MMP-9 (p = 0.0339) and TIMP-1 (p = 0.0044) and the plasma activity of MMP-2 (p = 0.0258) and MMP-9 (p = 0.0021) compared to non-ARDS was observed. A positive correlation between the plasma levels of TIMP-1 and chest computed tomography (CT) score (& rho; = 0.2302, p = 0.0160) was observed. At the T post, a reduction in plasma levels of TIMP-1 (p < 0.0001), whereas an increase in the plasma levels of MMP-9 was observed (p = 0.0088). Conclusions: The positive correlation between TIMP-1 with chest CT scores highlights its potential use as a marker of fibrotic burden. At T post, the increase in plasma levels of MMP-9 and the reduction in plasma levels of TIMP-1 suggested that inflammation and fibrosis resolution were still ongoing.
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