Expression and significance of matrix metalloproteinase-12 in patients with all types of coronary heart disease

Objective To investigate the difference of peripheral serum matrix metalloproteinase-12(MMP-12) level in different subtypes of coronary heart disease(CHD),and to explore the relationship of MMP-12 with the severity of coronary stenosis,and the incidence of acute coronary syndrome(ACS). Methods Seventy patients with CHD were divided into stable angina pectoris(SAP) group (11 patients),unstable angina pectoris(UAP) group (44 patients),acute myocardial infarction(AMI) group (15 patients).The severity of coronary stenosis was graded with Gensini score.13 subjects who underwent coronary angiography and showed no evidence of CHD served as normal controls(control) group.Peripheral serum MMP-12 level was measured by ELISA. Results Serum MMP-12 level was markedly increased in UAP group and AMI group compared with that of control group,SAP group,(2.96±1.46) μg/L and (3.43±0.88) μg/L vs (1.63±0.60) μg/L and (1.95±0.41) μg/L(P0.01),but no significant difference was found between SAP group and control group.In the patients with AMI ,the level of MMP-12 was slightly higher than that of the patients with UAP,but no significant difference.There was no correlation between the severity of coronary stenosis and peripheral serum MMP-12 level.And there was no obvious correlation between the level of MMP-12 and the pathologic stenosis' degree,the pathologic coronaries number,the level of cTnI,CK-MB,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,PLT. Conclusion The concentration of MMP-12 in ACS patients is higher obviously,and MMP-12 is related to the stability of coronary plaque;MMP-12 contributes to type the CHD and could be an important monitoring marker for CHD in clinic practice.