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Serum and Synovial Fluid Concentrations of Matrix Metalloproteinases 3 and Its Tissue Inhibitor 1 in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritides MARCO GATTORNO, SILVIA VIGNOLA, FERNANDA FALCINI, FEDERICA SABATINI, ANTONELLA BUONCOMPAGNI, GABRIELE SIMONINI, PAOLO PICCO, and VITO PISTOIA
ABSTRACT. 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. (J Rheumatol 2002;29:826-31) Key Indexing Terms:
JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS
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