Elevated levels of MMP-9 in untreated patients with stage I essential hypertension.

Increased expression and activity of metalloproteinases have been implicated in the pathophysiology of vascular remodeling and in the growth of atherosclerotic lesions. We aimed at determining the levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, their specific inhibitors TIMP-2 and TIMP-1, and the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, which are related to the stimulation of MMPs, in patients with untreated mild essential hypertension (UH) and normotensive (NT) volunteers. Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were significantly different in UH volunteers when compared to NT volunteers. Thus, MMP-9 is elevated in the early stages of essential hypertension and may be used as a marker of cardiovascular risk and vascular dysfunction.