Activity of MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 in serum as a marker of progression of alcoholic liver disease in people from Lublin Region, eastern Poland

In alcoholic liver cirrhosis, normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis). Liver fibrosis is a dynamic process in which activated hepatic stellate cells are involved in the synthesis of matrix proteins and the regulation of matrix degeneration. The aim of the presented study was to assess the usefulness of MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 as diagnostic markers of alcoholic liver disease. Sixty patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis were randomly enrolled during hospitalization in departments of hospitals from the Lublin Region in eastern Poland. The stage of cirrhosis was estimated according to Child-Turcotte-Pugh criteria (Child-Pugh score) as P-Ch A, P-Ch B, P-Ch C. The control group consisted of 10 healthy persons without liver disease, who did not drink alcohol. Additionally, a group of alcoholics without liver cirrhosis was included in the study. Blood sample were obtained, and after centrifuge, serum was collected for further analysis. The activity of MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 in the blood plasma of the patients and the control group were measured by using the sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique with commercially available quantitative ELISA test kits. Activity of MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 in patients with liver cirrhosis were increased gradually according to Child-Pugh stages. The activity of MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9 were the highest in patients with liver cirrhosis stage C. MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9 concentrations in the people with liver cirrhosis (stage C) were significantly increased compared to controls. A significant difference were observed between activity MMP-2 in control group, alcoholics without liver cirrhosis, and those with liver cirrhosis (stages A, B, C according Child-Pugh score). MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 may be markers of alcoholic liver cirrhosis in the alcoholics. Elevated levels of MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9 in the alcoholic patients indicated that cirrhosis has developed. The most sensitive is MMP-2, because the activity of this parameter is increased in all liver cirrhosis stages. MMP-8 and MMP-9 activity were significantly elevated only in serum patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, compared to controls.