SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2005

12/13/05

Increased plasma MMP-9 levels in chronic urticaria

Summary
Background - Matrix metalloproteinase type 9 (MMP-9) is an enzyme with pro-inflammatory properties, produced by a number of cell types (including macrophages neutrophils, mast cells, eosinophils and T lymphocytes). MMP-9 could play a role in mediating some allergic reactions.

Findings - Kessel et al of the Technion Faculty of Medicine in Haifa, Israel found that plasma levels of MMP-9 were significantly higher in patients with chronic urticaria (CU), n=29 than in healthy controls (n=18), p<0.0001). Furthermore, within the CU patient group, plasma MMP-9 levels were correlated with the severity of CU clinical manifestations (r=0.92; p<0.001). Also in studies of some of the CU patients showed that their lymphocytes were more activated (increased NF-kappa B and DNA synthesis) than lymphocytes of healthy controls (p<0.01).

Reference
Clin Exp Allergy 2005;35:221-5

Editor's Comments
These provocative findings are of considerable interest. I was rather surprised at the very impressive p values shown in comparison of CU and healthy control patients in consideration of the less impressive differences between the mean values in the CU and controls and rather large variation around such mean values.

If these findings are confirmed by other groups, what is their clinical significance? A first step might be to look for the amount of MMP-9 in lesional and non-involved skin of CU patients as compared to that in skin of healthy controls.

 

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