Plasma Glycosaminoglycan Profiles in Systemic Sclerosis: Associations with MMP-3, MMP-10, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TGF-Beta

The aim of the study was to determine whether plasma levels of total glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) (MMP-3, MMP-10), and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) as well as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) differ in the patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in relation to the healthy subjects. Plasma samples were obtained from 106 people (64 patients with SSc and 42 healthy individuals) and measured for MMP-3, MMP-10, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TGF-β levels using ELISA methods. GAGs isolated from plasma samples were quantified using a hexuronic acid assay. The plasma levels of total GAGs, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TGF-β were significantly higher, while MMP-3 was significantly decreased in SSc patients compared to the controls. We have revealed a significant correlation between plasma GAGs and TGF-β (r = –0.47) and TIMP-2 (r = 0.38), respectively. The results of this study revealed that remodeling of the extracellular matrix, reflected by quantitative changes in plasma glycosaminoglycans, occurs during systemic sclerosis. Thus, the alterations in GAG metabolism connected with SSc may lead to systemic changes in the properties of the connective tissue extracellular matrix.