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Imbalanced circulating matrix metalloproteinases in polycystic ovary syndrome

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Abstract

Altered levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may reflect relevant pathogenetic mechanisms of disease conditions. The objective of this study was to compare the plasma levels of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with those found in healthy ovulatory controls and to examine whether the levels of these biomarkers are associated with clinical and biochemical features of this syndrome. Sixty-five healthy ovulatory subjects (controls) and 80 patients with PCOS were include in this study. MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 concentrations were measured in plasma samples by gelatin zymography or enzyme-linked immunoassays. MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 levels were similar in PCOS patients and in healthy controls (P > 0.05). PCOS patients had lower plasma TIMP-2 levels than healthy controls (P < 0.05). We found higher MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in PCOS patients than in healthy controls (all P < 0.05). Testosterone levels correlated positively with the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio and negatively with TIMP-2 levels (r = 0.26, P < 0.01 and r = −0.21, P = 0.02, respectively). In addition, only testosterone was an independent predictor of TIMP-2 levels (estimate = −0.35, P = 0.04) and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio (estimate = 0.01, P = 0.04). We found evidence indicating that the balance between MMPs and TIMPs in women with PCOS is altered, probably due to androgen excess found in these women.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, 13081-970, Brazil

    Valéria A. Gomes, Anna L. Jacob-Ferreira & Vanessa A. Belo

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil

    Carolina S. Vieira, Gustavo M. Soares, Janaína B. F. Fernandes & Rui A. Ferriani

  3. National Institute of Hormones and Women’s Health, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil

    Carolina S. Vieira & Rui A. Ferriani

  4. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil

    Jose E. Tanus-Santos

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  1. Valéria A. Gomes
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  2. Carolina S. Vieira
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Correspondence to Jose E. Tanus-Santos.

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Gomes, V.A., Vieira, C.S., Jacob-Ferreira, A.L. et al. Imbalanced circulating matrix metalloproteinases in polycystic ovary syndrome. Mol Cell Biochem 353, 251–257 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-011-0793-6

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