Association between Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 3 Levels and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Meta-analysis

• Main Authors: Jiwon M. Lee, Andreas Kronbichler, Se Jin Park, Seong Heon Kim, Kyoung Hee Han, Hee Gyung Kang, Il Soo Ha, Hae Il Cheong, Ki Hwan Kim, Gaeun Kim, Dong Soo Kim, Hyun Wook Chae, Chul Ho Lee, Keum Hwa Lee, Jae Il Shin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2019-01-01
• Series: Disease Markers
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9796735
• ISSN: 0278-0240; 1875-8630

Introduction. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is an emerging disease marker in rheumatic diseases. This is a meta-analysis aimed at systematically reviewing association between serum MMP-3 levels and systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity, which sought to raise interest in MMP-3 as a putative biomarker. Methods. We conducted a meta-analysis of serum MMP-3 levels in patients with SLE and controls. We performed a PubMed search, EMBASE search, and forward search of the retrieved articles published until Oct. 1, 2018. In addition to this, we included data from a case-control study on a national pediatric SLE cohort, in which serum MMP-3 levels were measured in 11 SLE patients and 9 controls (unpublished). Subgroup analyses based on gender and disease activity were performed. Results. A total of 662 cases and 771 controls including 651 patients and 762 controls from 11 publications were studied. We observed significantly higher MMP-3 levels in SLE patients compared to healthy controls (P<0.001, Hedges’ g: 2.104, 95% CI 1.426-2.782). In subgroup analyses, we found a significant elevation of MMP-3 in the patients with nephritis compared to those without (P=0.006, Hedges’ g: 0.611, 95% CI 0.611-1.704). This finding was consistent between patients with persistent proteinuria and those without (P=0.023, Hedges’ g: 1.535, 95% CI 0.207-2.862). Meta-analysis showed no association between MMP-3 levels and gender or anti-double strand DNA antibody titer. Conclusions. Our meta-analysis demonstrated significantly higher MMP-3 levels in SLE patients than in controls and in patients with renal involvement than in those without.