Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process involving the intima layer of elastic arteries as well as the coronary and popliteal arteries. Myocardial ischemia due to atherosclerosis is the most common cause of mortality worldwide, and occurs because of acute disruption of blood flow in the coronary arteries by atherosclerotic lesions, resulting in myocardial necrosis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are members of a proteinase family related to several vascular disorders, in particular atherosclerosis. Thirteen members of the MMP family are thought to play a role in the atherosclerotic process. This study investigated the patterns of expression of the MMP-24 and MMP-15 genes, members of the membrane-type MMP subfamily, in vessels with atherosclerotic lesions in comparison with normal coronary arteries (n=30; 15 atherosclerotic coronary arteries and 15 lesion-free coronary arteries) obtained at autopsy. Gene expression of MMP-24 and MMP-15 was shown in atherosclerotic lesions using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction methods. The MMP-24 expression pattern was not significantly different between diseased and normal coronary arteries (P=0.2603; U=73). Although MMP-15 expression was slightly higher in coronary arteries with atherosclerotic lesions, no statistically significant difference was observed (P=0.2301; U=46).
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