MMP-12 as a new marker of Stanford-A acute aortic dissection

The study evaluated macrophage cytokines and macrophage metalloprotease (MMP)-12 levels in patients with Stanford-A acute aortic dissection (AAD) and in patients with critical carotid artery stenosis (CAS) compared with patients matched for age, sex, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors (RF). The aim was to identify possible early serum markers of risk for atherosclerotic complications.

We selected 65 patients: 23 AAD patients, 21 CAS patients, 21 RF, and 10 healthy subjects (HS). In each patient and control serum, levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and MMP-12 were assessed by ELISA.

A significant increase of MMP-12, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in AAD versus CAS was found. Moreover, MMP-12 was shown to be significantly higher in AAD versus RF, but not in CAS versus RF. A significant increase of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TNF-α, and VEGF levels was observed both in AAD and CAS versus RF.

The results suggest that MMP-12 may be considered to be a specific marker of Stanford-A AAD. Furthermore, the study confirmed that in AAD and CAS macrophage cytokines play a key role in the progression of the atherosclerotic disease towards complications.