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. 2022 Oct 26;12(11):1439.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci12111439.

Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis. A Preliminary Study

Vincenzo Di Stefano  1 , Chiara Tubiolo  1 , Andrea Gagliardo  1 , Rosalia Lo Presti  2 , Maria Montana  2 , Massimiliano Todisco  3   4 , Antonino Lupica  1 , Gregorio Caimi  2 , Cristina Tassorelli  3   4 , Brigida Fierro  1 , Filippo Brighina  1 , Giuseppe Cosentino  3   4
Affiliations

Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis. A Preliminary Study

Vincenzo Di Stefano et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) have recently been proposed as promising biomarkers in different immune-mediated disorders. We evaluated the plasma levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in a patients' cohort with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: Plasma concentrations of MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were evaluated in 14 patients with generalized MG and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The severity of disease was assessed by the modified Osserman classification.

Results: Compared to the healthy subjects, MG patients had increased plasma concentrations of MMP-9, but reduced plasma levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-1. MG patients also showed a positive correlation between MMP-2 concentrations and disease severity. An increase in MMP-9 levels and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio and a decrease in MMP-2 levels and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio were detected in patients with generalized MG. Higher levels of MMP-2 correlated with greater disease severity.

Discussion: Our preliminary findings suggest that MMPs and TIMPs could play a role in the pathogenesis of MG and might be associated with the risk of clinical deterioration.

Keywords: anti-AChR antibodies; matrix metalloproteinases; myasthenia gravis; neuromuscular junction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Plasma levels of MMP-9 (A), MMP-2 (B), TIMP-1 (C) and TIMP-2 (D), and MMP-9/TIMP-1 (E) and MMP-2/TIMP-2 (F) ratios in patients with generalized MG patients and controls. MG: myasthenia gravis; MMP: matrix metalloproteinases; TIMP: tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. * p < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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