The correlation of age and body mass index with the level of both protease MMP3 and anti-protease TIMP-1 among Indonesian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a preliminary findings

OBJECTIVES: Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are usually > 50 years of age and have a low body mass index (BMI). An imbalance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including MMP-3, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), play a role in tissue degradation of lung extracellular matrix among COPD individuals. The purpose of the present study was to correlate age and/or BMI with salivary levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 among Indonesian subjects with COPD. RESULTS: Thirty COPD patients were recruited to undergo thorough physical assessment and saliva collection for evaluating TIMP-1 and MMP-3 levels using commercially available kits enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The mean (standard deviation) participant age and BMI were 60.5 (8.13) years, and 23.1 (4.75) kg/m(2), respectively. Furthermore, the mean (standard deviation) of TIMP-1 and MMP3 levels were 23.99 (6.85) ng/mL and 1.81 (1.167) μM, respectively. Age was negatively correlated with MMP-3 (P < 0.05), but not with TIMP-1 levels. Age and BMI were not correlated with TIMP-1 level (P > 0.05). Collectively, this study demonstrated that age has a negative correlation with the protease marker (i.e. MMP-3), but not the anti-protease marker (TIMP-1). BMI was not correlated with either protease/anti-protease marker among Indonesian subjects with COPD.