INFLUENCE OF AGING, LOCALIZATION, GLUCOCORTICOIDS AND ISOTRETINOIN ONMATRIX METALLOPROTEASE-2 (MMP-2) AND METALLOPROTEASE-9 (MMP-9) IN SUCTION BLISTER FLUIDS

The expression of two matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), 72 kDa gelatinas e (MMP-2) and 92 kDa gelatinase (MMP-9), was studied in suction bliste r fluids and serum using a zymographic method, Both of the enzymes wer e detectable in blister fluid and serum, but their expression varied. The MMP-2 levels in serum were only about half of the levels in bliste r fluid, while the level of MMP-9 was about the same in both serum and blister fluid. The overall level of MMP-2 in serum was much lower tha n the level of MMP-9, which was possibly derived from inflammatory cel ls. In subjects aged from 20 to 86 years, no marked changes were seen in the serum or blister fluid gelatinases. Interestingly, body site af fected the level of MMP-9. The lowest level was recorded in fluid from blisters on the lower leg, in which the level was only about 19% of t he level in fluid from blisters on the abdomen. The levels of MMP-2 an d MMP-9 were not decreased by pharmacological doses of systemic predni sone or isotretinoin, which indicates that systemic glucocorticoid or retinoid treatment does not affect the basal levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 .