Thromb Haemostasis
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 during human orthotopic liver transplantation. The effect of aprotinin and the relation to ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Uncontrolled activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can result in tissue injury and inflammation, yet little is known about the activation of MMPs during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). OLT is associated with increased fibrinolytic activity due to elevated plasmin generation. The serine-protease plasmin not only causes degradation of fibrin clots but is also thought, amongst others, to play a role in the activation of some matrix metalloproteinases. ⋯ MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 gradually decreased during OLT. The composition of these MMPs was not altered by the use of aprotinin, suggesting that serine-protease/plasmin-independent pathways are responsible for MMP regulation during OLT. In addition, only MMP-9 seems to be involved in I/R injury during human liver transplantation.