The Role of MMP-9,TIMP-1IL-6 and hS-CRP in Evaluation of Atheromatous Plaque Instability in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Objective:To study the relationship between serum MMP-9,TIMP-1 and inflamatory markers IL-6 and hS-CRP in coronary artery disease(CAD )patients with atheromatous plaque instability.
Method: Our study was done on 100 patients admited in Cardiology Deptartment of C.C. Iliescu Cardiovascular Institute, 40 patients with stable angina(SAP) with effort angina signs class I and II., 20 with unstable angina(USAP), 20 with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and 20 patients belonging to Control free of coronary artery disease(CAD).Blood samples have been collected by vein puncture, processed by centrifugation and kept at – 70 C until the assay. Evaluation of serum levels of MMP-9 , TIMP- 1 , IL-6 and hS-CRP has been done by ELISA method.
Results: MMP-9 exhibited higher mean values both in UAP,AMI and SAP patients versus controls. TIMP-1 values were lower in (AMI) indicating an increase in MMP-9 with a positive effect for reparing the myocardial lesion versus UAP and SAP .The values were also correlated with increased levels of inflammatory markers.MMP-9 levels did correlate with those of IL-6 and hS-CRP which suggest the fact that MMP-9 could be a marker of atherosclerosis which is dependent of other traditionally markers of inflammation.
Conclusion: Balance in expression and activation of MMPs and inhibition by TIMPs is critical for the development of stenotic and aneurysmal change. The development of therapeutic drugs specifically targeting MMPs may thus be useful for prevention of atherosclerotic lesion progression, plaque rupture, and restenosis.