Relevance of the serum matrix metalloproteinase-8 and carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetics

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum matrix metalloproteinase-8(MMP-8) level and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods 60 subjects were enrolled in the normal control group(NC group),and 89 patients with diabetes were included in the diabetic group(DM group).DM group was divided into 2 groups based on carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and carotid plaques.One consisted of diabetics without carotid atherosclerosis(DM1 group,n=16) and the other one consisted of diabetics with carotid atherosclerosis(group DM2,n=73).We compared MMP-8 level of these three groups.DM2 group was divided into 3 sub-groups based on carotid IMT and the characteristic of plaques:the carotid IMT thickening group(group A,n=12),the stable plaque group(group B,n=27) and the unstable plaque group(group C,n=34).We compared IMT,Crouse score and carotid ultrasonic indexes in these three sub-groups and then analyzed the relevance of serum MMP-8 level and carotid ultrasonic indexes.Results Both serum MMP-8 level and carotid IMT in DM2 group were higher than in NC group and DM1 group,and DM1 group had higher MMP-8 level and carotid IMT than those in NC group(P0.05).Moreover,the level of MMP-8 in group C was higher than group A and group B,and group B had a higher MMP-8 level than group A(P0.05).The serum MMP-8 level had a positive co-linearity with IMT(r=0.68,P0.05) and Crouse score(r=0.72,P0.05).Conclusion The serum MMP-8 level had a co-linearity with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanied with carotid atherosclerosis,and it could be an index which can predict the emergence and stability of carotid plaques.