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Review
. 2021 Mar 9;11(3):480.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics11030480.

Role of Gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Healthy and Complicated Pregnancy and Their Future Potential as Preeclampsia Biomarkers

Asparuh Nikolov  1 , Nikola Popovski  2
Affiliations
Review

Role of Gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Healthy and Complicated Pregnancy and Their Future Potential as Preeclampsia Biomarkers

Asparuh Nikolov et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

Gelatinases (matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9) are enzymes from the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) family, which are associated with collagen degradation. MMP-2 is capable of cleaving gelatine, types I and IV collagens, while MMP-9 is incapable of direct proteolysis of collagen I and digests collagen type IV. MMP-2 and -9 are both important regulators of vascular and uterine remodeling in a healthy pregnancy. Alterations in the collagen structure of the uterus and spiral arteries are observed in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Dysregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 has been implicated in abnormal vasodilation, placentation, and uterine expansion in preeclampsia. Early preeclampsia detection is paramount for risk stratification and prevention of further complications. Understanding the role of MMP-2 and-9 in uteroplacental and vascular remodeling could help design new approaches for prediction and management of preeclampsia. This review presents a general survey of MMP-2 and MMP-9 faulty regulation and impaired collagen types I and IV turnover in complicated pregnancies. Their potential role as circulating markers for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of preeclampsia development is discussed as well.

Keywords: biomarkers; collagen types I and IV; extracellular matrix; microcirculatory ischemia; preeclampsia; spiral arteries.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A possible schematic pattern illustrating the eventual mechanisms of impaired collagen I and IV turnover in pathological pregnancy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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