Conjunctival matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in glaucoma patients

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) England), 2015-03, Vol.93 (2), p.165-171
• Main Authors: Helin‐Toiviainen, Minna, Rönkkö, Seppo, Puustjärvi, Tuomo, Rekonen, Petri, Ollikainen, Minna, Uusitalo, Hannu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; conjunctiva; Conjunctiva - enzymology; deep sclerectomy; exfoliation glaucoma; Exfoliation Syndrome - enzymology; Exfoliation Syndrome - surgery; Female; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - enzymology; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - surgery; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinases - metabolism; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; primary open‐angle glaucoma; scarring; Sclerostomy; Wound Healing - physiology
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/aos.12550

Purpose Chronic conjunctival inflammation, caused by various reasons, for example long‐term use of topical drugs and/or their preservatives, affects the outcome of glaucoma surgery by interfering with wound healing. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) remodel extracellular matrix (ECM) and are involved in the wound healing process. This study was designed to evaluate the conjunctival expression of MMPs and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in the normal eye, primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) and exfoliation glaucoma (ExG) and whether there is an association between staining intensities and deep sclerectomy outcome. Methods Immunohistochemical procedures were performed on conjunctival samples which were obtained from POAG (n = 11) and ExG (n = 14) patients as well as normal (n = 7) subjects. Antibodies against MMPs (MMP‐1, ‐2, ‐3 and ‐9) and TIMPs (TIMP‐1, ‐2 and ‐3) were used. Results In conjunctival stroma, expression levels of MMP‐2 (p = 0.047), MMP‐3 (p = 0.009), MMP‐9 (p