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Increased Circulating Levels of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in Women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Department of Biological Sciences (K.C.L., B.K.T., J.C., H.S.R.), Molecular Medicine Research Group, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (K.C.L., J.K.), The Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland; Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (C.J.O.), Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6; and Department of Medicine (G.M.P.), Royal Free and University College Medical School, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Harpal S. Randeva, M.B.Ch.B., F.R.C.P., Ph.D., Molecular Medicine Group, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom. E-mail: hrandeva{at}bio.warwick.ac.uk.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in various pathological processes including inflammatory response, cardiovascular disease, and recently also in ovarian dysfunction. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age and is characterized by chronic anovulation, insulin resistance, and increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Circulating levels of MMPs and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) so far have not been assessed in the PCOS.

Materials and Methods: Serum levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were measured in 23 women with PCOS [age (mean ± SD), 30.5 ± 6.7 yr; body mass index, 35.8 ± 7.5 kg/m²] and 22 healthy, regularly menstruating women (age, 29.4 ± 5.6; body mass index, 31.7 ± 9.2 kg/m²).

Results: Women with PCOS had significantly higher concentrations of MMP-2 (999.8 ± 155 vs. 521.8 ± 242 ng/ml; P < 0.001), MMP-9 (592.4 ± 279 vs. 345 ± 309; P = 0.007), and TIMP-1 levels (823.8 ± 145 vs. 692 ± 210 ng/ml; P = 0.02) than control healthy women. There was no difference in TIMP-2 levels (47.3 ± 30 vs. 44.4 ± 39.7 ng/ml; P = 0.21) between women with PCOS and controls.

Conclusions: Obese women with PCOS have elevated serum concentrations of MMP-2 and -9. It might be hypothesized that elevated MMP concentrations may be related to increased cardiovascular risk in PCOS and/or menstrual irregularities associated with this syndrome.

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