Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Article

Altered Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Complicated Mice Heart Secondary to Experimentally Induced Viral Myocarditis.: Sung Sook Kim, Dae Woon Eom, Yeong Ju Woo, Jae Hee Suh, Jooryung Huh, Young Me Hong, Inpyo Choi; Korean J Pathol. 2001;35(3):196-200.

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of transition from viral myocarditis to dilated cardiomyopathy is elusive, although the incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy in human is increasing.
METHODS
To clarify the role of the tissue inhibitor of matrix metaloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in this event, we performed immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and immunoassay of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and TIMP-2 in the serum and heart tissue of mice, which were inoculated with 4000 plaque-forming units of coxsackie B virus.
RESULTS
The MMP-9 was expressed in damaged cardiomyocytes, and the TIMP-2 was expressed in mainly interstitial connective tissue between cardiac muscle bundles by immunohistochemistry. The level of serum MMP-9 was higher in the complicated than non-complicated group (p<0.001), but the level of TIMP-2 was much lower in complicated than non-complicated group (p<0.05). These findings were similar to the results of immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in tissues.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that an imbalance in the level of MMP-9 and its inhibitor might activate cardiac complication in viral myocarditis.

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