WOUND FLUID FROM CHRONIC LEG ULCERS CONTAINS ELEVATED LEVELS OF METALLOPROTEINASES MMP-2 AND MMP-9

The purpose of the present research was to determine if metalloprotein ase levels were elevated in human chronic wound fluid. Samples of bloo d and wound fluid from acute (mastectomy) and chronic (leg ulcer) woun ds were collected, and metalloproteinase profiles of the samples were determined by gelatin zymography. Compared to serum, acute wound fluid (mastectomy fluid) contained markedly increased levels (five- to tenf old) of several metalloproteinases including 72-kDa and 94-kDa gelatin ases (MMP-2 and MMP-9). In chronic wound fluid, not only were these en zyme levels increased another five- to tenfold over mastectomy fluid, but also both activated enzyme and proenzymes species appeared to be p resent. Our results suggest that non-healing ulcers develop and enviro nment containing high levels of activated metalloproteinases, which ma y result in chronic tissues turnover and failed wound closure.