Table 3

Immunohistologic and zymographic expression of matrix metalloproteinases in synovial tissues from patients with recent onset ofArthritis

RA (n = 21)

Non-RA (n = 7)

Normal tissue (n = 4)

Immunohistology

    Composite inflammatory index (0-4)

1.5± 0.5

1.7± 0.9

0± 0.1^††

    MMP-2

50 ± 30

78 ± 45

0^††

    MMP-14

8.4 ± 5^**

3.7 ± 4

0^††

    TIMP-2

25 ± 12

39 ± 9^*

0^††

    MMP-9

10.9 ± 6

7.4 ± 7

1 ± 0^††

Gelatinolytic activity

    Active MMP-2 activity (ng/mg)

2.6 ± 2.7

1.3 ± 1.1

1.3 ± 0.5

    Total MMP-2 activity (ng/mg)

13.6 ± 9.6

8.6 ± 3.5

5.7 ± 0.7^†

    MMP-9 activity (ng/mg)

18.0 ± 28.9

60.3 ± 136

4.0 ± 0.7

For definition of 'composite index', refer to the Patients and method section. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, versus nonrheumatoid arthritis (ra) patients; ^†P < 0.05, ^‡ P < 0.01, versus normal volunteers. mmp, matrix metalloproteinase; timp, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase.

Goldbach-Mansky et al. Arthritis Res 2000 2:145   doi:10.1186/ar79