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Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix
Published on: June 14, 2016
Extracellular matrix collagen biomarker levels in patients who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy
Ahmet Zengin1, Rabia Kalkan2, Kübra Yıldız Aydın3
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Kartal Koşuyolu Teaching and Education Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) tissue levels were lower in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients. Serum MMP-9 and MMP-2 levels did not differ, suggesting MMP-9 tissue levels may influence pulmonary vascular remodeling in CTEPH.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- The role of extracellular matrix collagen biomarkers in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) remains unclear.
- Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key enzymes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 in patients with CTEPH.
- To explore the potential role of these biomarkers in the pathophysiology of CTEPH.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, cross-sectional study comparing 24 CTEPH patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy with 24 controls undergoing lung surgery without pulmonary hypertension.
- Serum MMP-9 levels and pulmonary artery tissue levels of MMP-2 (pro and active forms) and MMP-9 were measured using ELISA and Western blot techniques.
Main Results:
- Serum MMP-9 concentrations were similar between CTEPH patients and controls.
- Tissue levels of pro MMP-2/ß-actin and active MMP-2/ß-actin showed no significant difference between groups.
- Tissue samples from CTEPH patients exhibited significantly lower levels of MMP-9/ß-actin compared to controls (P = 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Serum extracellular matrix collagen biomarker levels are comparable in operable CTEPH patients and controls.
- Reduced tissue levels of MMP-9/ß-actin may be implicated in pulmonary vascular remodeling in CTEPH patients eligible for surgery.
Objectives:
The role of extracellular matrix collagen biomarkers in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is not well known. Our goal was to investigate the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 protein levels in patients with CTETH.
Methods:
This is a prospective, cross-sectional study. Patients with CTETH who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy comprise group 1, and the control group included patients who underwent lung surgery without pulmonary hypertension (group 2) between March 2020 and March 2021. In addition to serum levels of MMP-9, the pulmonary endarterectomy and control pulmonary artery tissue samples were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 4pl, cubic, quadratic and Western blot techniques. Levels of MMP-2, which consist of pro MMP-2/ß-actin and active MMP-2/ß-actin and MMP-9/ß-actin, were measured only in the tissue samples.
Results:
Forty-eight patients were enrolled consecutively in group 1 (n: 24) and group 2 (n: 24). The serum concentrations of MMP-9 were similar in both groups. Similarly, a comparison of tissue sample levels of pro MMP-2/ß-actin (P = 0.496) and active MMP-2/ß-actin (P = 0.216) showed no significant difference between the groups. The tissue samples from patients with CTETH had significantly lower amounts of MMP-9/ß-actin compared to the control group (P = 0.001).
Conclusions:
This study indicates that serum levels of extracellular matrix collagen biomarkers were similar in patients with CTETH who were candidates for surgery and in patients who had non-pulmonary hypertension who underwent lung surgery. Differences in levels of MMP-9/ß-actin in tissue samples may play a role in pulmonary vascular remodelling in operable patients.
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