The gene expression profile of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in children with henoch-schonlein purpura

Abstract

[한글]

[영문]

To investigate the gene expression profile of all known matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) and to examine the role, if any, of MMP in the pathogenesis of HSP, peripheral blood samples were obtained from 10 patients with HSP (nine were in the acute stage of HSP, one had HSP nephritis) and 4 healthy controls. Peripheral blood samples were also taken from the nine HSP patients when they reached the convalescent stage of the disease. From these samples, total RNA was purified and gene expressions were measured using real-time polymerase chain reactions.MMP-8 expression was decreased in patients with arthralgia (p = 0.038), and MMP-3 (p = 0.03) and TIMP-4 expressions (p = 0.016) were elevated in HSP patients with nephritis. Soft tissue edema was associated with decreased expression of MMP-26 (p = 0.038) and MMP-28 (p = 0.038). MMP-1, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-10, MMP-13, MMP-16 and MMP-26 levels were significantly higher in patients in the acute stage of HSP than in normal controls (p < 0.05), and MMP-9 (p = 0.097) and MMP-19 (p = 0.054) levels decreased to borderline significance in patients in the convalescent stage compared to patients in the acute stage. The duration of steroids administered was negatively correlated with MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-10, MMP-12, MMP-19, MMP-23, and TIMP-1 levels (p < 0.05), suggesting a suppressive effect of steroids on the expressions of MMP and TIMP.This was the first study to describe the expression profile of all known MMPs and TIMPs in children with HSP, and our results suggested that abnormal levels of MMP and TIMP activity may have a role in the pathogenesis of HSP.