Serum and synovial fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases 3 and its tissue inhibitor 1 in juvenile idiopathic arthritides

• Published in: Journal of rheumatology 2002-04, Vol.29 (4), p.826-831
• Main Authors: GATTORNO, Marco, VIGNOLA, Silvia, FALCINI, Fernanda, SABATINI, Federica, BUONCOMPAGNI, Antonella, SIMONINI, Gabriele, PICCO, Paolo, PISTOIA, Vito
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Arthritis, Juvenile - blood; Arthritis, Juvenile - enzymology; Arthritis, Juvenile - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Inflammatory joint diseases; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 - metabolism; Medical sciences; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Synovial Fluid - enzymology; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 - metabolism
• ISSN: 0315-162X; 1499-2752

OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a large family of proteolytic enzymes involved in the remodeling of extracellular matrix during tissue resorption in idiopathic arthritides. We investigated serum and synovial fluid (SF) concentrations of MMP-3 and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1) in juvenile idiopathic arthritides (JIA). METHODS: Sera from 45 patients with active, 15 patients with inactive JIA, and 15 healthy controls were evaluated by ELISA for MMP-3 (stromelysin-1), TIMP-1, and soluble p75 tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR). Paired SF concentrations were evaluated in 19 patients with JIA. RESULTS: MMP-3 serum concentrations were significantly higher in patients with active poly- and oligoarticular JIA versus inactive patients (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively) and healthy controls (p < 0.001 for both). Serum MMP-3, but not TIMP-1, concentration displayed a variable degree of correlation with clinical and laboratory variables of disease activity and with p75 sTNFR concentrations (r = 0.37, p = 0.005). SF MMP-3 concentrations were 30-300 times higher than those found in paired sera (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon rank test). A clear inversion of MMP-3/TIMP-1 ratio was observed when sera (median 0.31. range 0.02-1.5) were compared with the corresponding SF samples (5.3, range 4.9-5.5; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: MMP-3 (stromelysin-1) is clearly overexpressed in SF of patients with JIA. An inadequate counter-expression of TIMP-1 may represent a crucial event for the development and perpetuation of tissue damage.