In human plasma samples from healthy controls and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, we observed a gelatinolytic molecule at 80 kDa, suggestive for activated human MMP-9.
In addition, we showed that MMP-9 dissolved immune complexes from plasma of lupus-prone LPR<sup>-/-</sup>/MMP-9<sup>-/-</sup> mice and from blood samples of SLE patients.
Validation of selected candidate genes (IRF9, ABCA1, APOBEC3, CEACAM3, OSCAR, TNFA1P6, MMP9, SLC4A1) revealed significant differences in expression, indicating their promissory role in the pathogenesis of lupus.
In conclusion, the level of RECK protein expressed in PBMCs could be used to predict organ or system damage in SLE and this might help in developing new therapies for SLE targeted at MMP-9.
In conclusion, the level of RECK protein expressed in PBMCs could be used to predict organ or system damage in SLE and this might help in developing new therapies for SLE targeted at MMP-9.
Herein we review the involvement of MMP-9 in a variety of autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, polymyositis and atherosclerosis.
However, SLE patients who had at least 1 neuropsychiatric manifestation (NPSLE patients) had significantly higher serum MMP-9 concentrations than did SLE patients without neuropsychiatric syndromes (P = 0.009).
When the patients were sub-grouped based on disease status, the most increased pro-MMP-9 activity inside the PBMCs was identified for relapse SLE sub-group.