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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

One-step Extraction and Zymographic Analysis of Bacterial Gelatinases
Published on: August 1, 2025
Effects of anticoagulants on the activity of gelatinases
Massimiliano Castellazzi1, Carmine Tamborino, Enrico Fainardi
1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Communication and Behaviour, Section of Neurology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara I-44100, Italy. massimiliano.castellazzi@unife.it
Objectives:
To identify the best procedure for preanalytical blood collection in the determination of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 by testing the effects of anticoagulants on their activity.
Design And Methods:
Active forms of both gelatinases were measured by specific activity assay systems in serum, plasma EDTA, plasma-heparin and plasma-citrate obtained from 20 healthy volunteers, as well as in a pooled serum sample before and after anticoagulant treatment.
Results:
: Active MMP-2 and MMP-9 mean concentrations were similar in serum and in plasma-citrate, higher in plasma EDTA than in serum, in plasma-heparin and in plasma-citrate, and lower in plasma-heparin than in serum and plasma-citrate. A similar trend was observed in untreated and treated pooled serum samples.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that MMP-2 and MMP-9 in their active forms are not released by platelets during blood clotting, whereas the use of calcium chelating anticoagulants can profoundly alter the activity of endogenous gelatinases. This suggests that the determination of active forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in serum samples represents a suitable procedure.
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