Purpose:
To evaluate the aqueous humour and serum concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and its endogenous inhibitor (TIMP-2) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and PEX glaucoma (PEXG).
Methods:
Aqueous humor and serum samples were collected from 32 patients with PEX syndrome (n=12), PEXG (n=10), and control group (n=10), who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2 and TGF-β1 were determined by commercial immunoassays (ELISA Calbiochem; EMD Biosciences, Darmstadt, Germany and ELISA Biosource-USA ). The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) by using SPSS 12.0 and Sigmastat 3.10. program.
Results:
The concentration MMP-2 , TIMP-2 and TGF-beta1 in aqueous humor and serum showed no significant differences between the three groups (p>0.05).(Table:1) But the levels of TIMP-2 in PEX eyes with glaucoma, the mean serum TGF-beta1 concentration in PEX eyes with glaucoma and PEX syndrome were slightly higher compared to the control group.Table 1: The concentration of MMP-2 , TIMP-2 and TGF-beta1 levels in aqueous humor and serum
Conclusions:
The results of this study did not find a significant relationship between MMPs and their inhibitors associated with TGF-β1 to reveal the pathogenesis of PEX syndrome and PEX glaucoma. To determine the effect of an imbalance in this enzyme family, further studies which use more accurate assessment methods on larger patients groups are required.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: natural history • extracellular matrix