Human aqueous humor levels of transforming growth factor-β2: Association with matrix metalloproteinases/tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases

• Published in: Biomedical reports 2017-12, Vol.7 (6), p.573-578
• Main Authors: Jia, Yan, Yue, Yu, Hu, Dan-Ning, Chen, Ji-Li, Zhou, Ji-Bo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aqueous humor; Cataracts; Correlation analysis; correlation study; Elongation; Fibroblasts; Gelatinase A; Growth factors; high myopia; Inhibitors; Kinases; Matrix metalloproteinases; Myopia; Proteins; Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1; Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2; Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3; tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases; Transforming growth factor; transforming growth factor-β2
• ISSN: 2049-9434; 2049-9442
• DOI: 10.3892/br.2017.1004

The present study aims to investigate the association of transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-3, and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 in the aqueous humor of patients with high myopia or cataracts. The levels of TGF-β2 and MMPs/TIMPs were measured with the Luminex xMAP Technology using commercially available Milliplex xMAP kits. The association between TGF-β2 and MMPs/TIMPs levels was analyzed using the Spearmans correlation test. The levels of TGF-β2 were identified to be positively correlated with the levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-3 (TIMP-1: r=0.334; P=0.007; TIMP-3: r=0.309; P=0.012). The levels of MMP-2, MMP-3 and TIMP-2 did not significantly correlate with TGF-β2 levels (P>0.05). A positive correlation was identified between TGF-β2 and TIMPs in the aqueous humor of human eyes with elongated axial length. It appears that TGF-β2 stimulates the expression of TIMPs as a compensatory reaction to the development of high myopia.