Leukocyte-derived matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with coronary artery disease: Associations with psychological stress and glucocorticoid sensitivity

Inflammation is closely associated with development of atherosclerosis. The proteolytic enzyme matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is considered to play a prominent role in this process. MMP-9 has also been introduced as a marker for plaque vulnerability. Still, the possible mechanisms behind altered levels of MMP-9 and its tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in patients with atherosclerotic disease remain unclear. The general aim of this thesis was to compare leukocyte-derived MMP-9 and TIMPs in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy controls and to further relate the findings to psychological stress and glucocorticoid sensitivity. Levels of leukocyte-derived MMP-9 and TIMP-1 showed a significant difference between CAD patients and controls. Neutrophils in CAD patients were more prone to release MMP-9 and furthermore, PBMCs in patients expressed higher levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 and -2 mRNA than PBMCs in controls while there were no differences in plasma or serum levels. The increase in leukocyte-derived levels of MMP-9 and TIMPs indicate the presence of preactivated leukocytes in CAD. Inflammation has been proposed as a mechanistic link between cardiovascular risk and depressive symptoms. We investigated whether the overexpression of leukocyte-derived MMP-9 and TIMPs in CAD patients was associated with psychological factors. Patients exhibited sustained elevations in depressive symptoms, however, these symptoms were not related to any MMP-9 or TIMP variables. The findings suggest that overexpression of leukocyte-derived MMP-9 and TIMPs and elevated depressive scores represent two parallel phenomena in CAD. Chronic inflammation may be associated with reduced glucocorticoid sensitivity. We found that PBMCs in CAD patient expressed significantly increased levels of glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-α mRNA, whereas GR-β mRNA levels did not differ between patients and controls. Moreover, in ex vivo assays, dexamethasone efficiently suppressed MMP-9 and TIMPs equally or even more in patients compared to controls. The findings provide evidence for enhanced glucocorticoid sensitivity in CAD patients and also suggest that a state of relative hypocortisolism may contribute to the overexpression of leukocyte-derived MMP-9 and TIMPs. Lastly, we explored the release of MMP-9, TIMPs and cortisol in response to acute mental stress in CAD patients. Patients who exhibited a significant stress-induced increase in serum MMP-9 also exhibited an altered cortisol response. Mor