Background: The aim of this study was to determine plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2, 3, and 9 and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) 1 and 2 in type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) compared to healthy subjects.
Methods: The study involved 54 patients with T2DM and 57 age and gender matched healthy adults as controls. MMPs 2 and 9 were analyzed by gelatin zymography and MMP-3 and TIMPs 1 and 2 by ELISA.
Results: For technical feasibility, MMPs 2 and 9 were expressed in pro forms. Pro-MMP-9 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), whereas TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in patients with T2DM compared to controls. The MMP-3/TIMP-1 and the MMP-3/TMP-2 ratios were significantly higher in T2DM patients than controls (p < 0.05). Fasting plasma glucose was inversely correlated with TIMP-1 (r = -0.412, p < 0.01) and TIMP-2 (r = -0.315, p < 0.001), but was not associated with MMPs.
Conclusions: The present study identified abnormalities in plasma markers for extracellular matrix metabolism in T2DM. The new parameters would constitute an effective approach to explore the complications of uncontrolled diabetes.