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

Abstract EN

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study on a national pediatric SLE cohort, in which serum MMP-3 levels were measured in 11 SLE patients and 9 controls (unpublished).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.